We maintain a database of significant Art Law and Cultural Heritage decisions from New Zealand Courts and Tribunals which we publish here, subject to any suppression orders and copyright restrictions.
Often a single proceeding will involve several decisions, for instance where a party appeals the decision of a lower court to a higher one or if procedural points must be addressed before a substantive hearing. We will not include every decision in a proceeding and will only list those with relevant insights.
Several decisions listed here are no longer good law but may be of historical interest.
This is a work in progress, and we encourage any interested users to send us any new (or old) decisions of note that are not listed.
| Case Name | Date | Citation / Download (if available) | Court | Our Insights | Art Law Issues | Artist(s) | External Media |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preece – Taonga Tūturu found at Rēkohu/Wharekauri | 30 June 2026 | (2026) 106 Te Waipounamu MB 217 (106 TWP 217) | Māori Land Court of New Zealand | Protected Objects; Taonga tūturu; Waka; Meaning of “found”; Archaeological excavation; Care and conservation; Crown statutory duties; Traditional ownership | |||
| Chief Executive Ministry of Culture and Heritage v Hokotehi Moriori Trust | 2 June 2026 | (2026) 105 Te Waipounamu MB 260 (105 TWP 260) | Māori Land Court of New Zealand | Protected Objects; Taonga tūturu; Ownership | |||
| Matchitt v Matchitt | 12 February 2026 | [2026] NZHC 198 | High Court | Artistic legacy; Trusts; Removal and replacement of trustees; Estate artworks | Paratene Matchitt (Para) | About the Artist: Auckland Art Gallery, Public Art Heritage, Wikipedia | |
| Agam v Moon | 2 October 2025 | [2025] NZCA 510 | Court of Appeal | Contractual dispute (artist/printer); Artificer’s lien; Interim injunction; Security for undertaking as to damages | Yaacov Agam | Article | |
| Wellington Civic Trust v Wellington City Council | 1 September 2025 | [2025] NZHC 2552 | High Court | Public art; Site-specific art; Judicial review; Local government; Demolition | Paratene Matchitt (Para) | City to Sea Bridge | |
| Matchitt v Matchitt | 18 July 2025 | [2025] NZHC 1991 | High Court | Artistic legacy; Trusts; Removal of trustees; Originating application | Paratene Matchitt (Para) | About the Artist: Auckland Art Gallery, Public Art Heritage, Wikipedia | |
| Agam v Moon | 30 June 2025 | [2025] NZHC 1748 | High Court | Contractual dispute (artist/printer); Sale of artworks; Stay pending appeal; Interim relief | Yaacov Agam | ||
| Agam v Moon | 11 June 2025 | [2025] NZHC 1498 | High Court | Contractual dispute (artist/printer); Interim injunction; Rescission/variation of order | Yaacov Agam | ||
| Alalääkkölä v Palmer | 7 March 2025 | [2025] NZSC 12 | Supreme Court | Copyright; Relationship Property; Valuation and distribution of artworks | Sirpa Alalääkkölä | Judge blocks printing company from selling Israeli artist’s work | |
| Genge v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections | 5 March 2025 | [2025] NZHC 981 | High Court | Obscenity; Prisoner drawings; Freedom of expression; Judicial review | |||
| Agam v Moon | 18 December 2024 | [2024] NZHC 3907 | High Court | Contracts in the Art World: Lessons from the Courts | Contractual dispute (artist/printer); Artificer’s lien; Statutory lien; Conversion; Interim injunction | Yaacov Agam | |
| Pickering v R | 2 December 2024 | [2024] NZHC 3641 | High Court | Art theft; Burglary; Art gallery; Reparations | Article | ||
| Re Ron and Joan Gillatt Charitable Trust Board | 13 November 2024 | [2024] NZHC 3374 | High Court | Art charities; Charitable purpose; Public benefit; Cultural collections | |||
| LF v JN | 7 May 2024 | [2024] NZDT 354 | Disputes Tribunal | Bailment; Stored artwork; Conversion; Negligence; Insolvency; Official Assignee | |||
| SB v QD | 24 February 2024 | [2024] NZDT 91 | Disputes Tribunal | Artist-gallery agreements; Consignment of artwork; Gallery commission; Exhibition agreements; Withdrawal of artwork; Ownership; Informal contractual terms; Sale of artwork | |||
| Alalaakkola v Palmer | 21 February 2024 | [2024] NZCA 24 | Court of Appeal | Copyright; Relationship Property; Valuation and distribution of artworks | Sirpa Alalääkkölä | ||
| ON v MB Ltd | 5 May 2023 | [2023] NZDT 132 | Disputes Tribunal | Coins; Online auction; Consumer Guarantees Act; Onus of proof | |||
| M Ltd v KC | 2 February 2023 | [2023] NZDT 26 | Disputes Tribunal | Coins and ingots; Authenticity; Online auction; Caveat emptor; Auction terms; Misleading conduct; Fair Trading Act; Consumer Guarantees Act | |||
| Smith-West v Discovery NZ Ltd | 20 December 2022 | BSA 2022-110 | Broadcasting Standards Authority | Public art; Vandalism; Freedom of expression; Broadcasting standards | Dean Proudfoot; Tāme Iti; | Vandalism or value?: Owner of artwork ‘corrected’ by Tāme Iti expects prosecution, artist says he appreciates it | |
| LI v MB | 21 September 2022 | [2022] NZDT 158 | Disputes Tribunal | Art auction; Painting; Authenticity dispute; Auctioneer duties; Consumer Guarantees Act; Fair Trading Act | |||
| DC v JBD Limited | 11 March 2021 | [2021] NZDT 1379 | Disputes Tribunal | Consignment; Missing painting; Evidence of possession | |||
| Johnson v Nixon | 3 December 2020 | [2020] NZHC 3193 | High Court | Ownership; Stolen art; Nemo dat; Bona fide purchaser; Limitation; Relationship Property; Constructive trust; Conversion | Goldie; | The Widow Ngaheke, Perira te Kahikura | |
| R v Hill | 24 September 2020 | [2020] NZDC 19895 | District Court | Art theft; Burglary; Art collection; Sentencing | |||
| Hayward v Police | 16 April 2019 | [2019] NZHC 848 | High Court | Art theft; Sculpture; Name suppression | Gregor Kregar “Thinker” | Article at Gow Langsford; RNZ Article | |
| Northland Environmental Protection Society Inc v Chief Executive of the Ministry of Primary Industries | 9 November 2018 | [2018] NZSC 105 | Supreme Court | Exporting objects under the Protected Objects Act 1975 | Protected Objects; Export; Swamp kauri; Forests Act | ||
| Friends of the Auckland Art Gallery Acquisitions Trust v Friends of the Auckland Art Gallery Incorporated & Ors | 17 July 2018 | [2018] NZHC 1768 | High Court | Art gallery funding; Charitable trusts; Acquisition of artworks; Variation of trust deed; Use of trust capital; Winding up; Cy-près scheme | |||
| Five photographs and 6 women photographers (corrected) | 16 May 2018 | [2018] NZFLBR 1 (16 May 2018) | Film and Literature Review Board | Obscenity; Fine art photography; Classification; Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act | Rhondda Bosworth; Ann Noble | ||
| Northland Environmental Protection Society Inc v Chief Executive of the Ministry of Primary Industries | 19 December 2017 | [2017] NZCA 607 | Court of Appeal | Exporting objects under the Protected Objects Act 1975 | Protected Objects; Export; Swamp kauri; Forests Act | ||
| Canterbury Regional Council v Mahon | 1 September 2017 | [2017] NZHC 2132 | High Court | Public art; Sculpture; Freedom of expression; Political satire; Interim injunction | Sam Mahon | Article; The politics of art: Sam Mahon defends his defecating Nick Smith sculpture | |
| Hoeberechts v Sprott & Nowacki | 14 August 2017 | [2017] NZHC 1928 | High Court | Estate artworks; Testamentary gifts; Paintings; Executor removal; Protected Objects Act | Alfred Sharpe; Frances Hodgkins; Aston Greathead | ||
| Northland Environmental Protection Society Inc v Chief Executive of the Ministry of Primary Industries | 1 March 2017 | [2017] NZHC 308 | High Court | Exporting objects under the Protected Objects Act 1975 | Protected Objects; Export; Swamp kauri; Forests Act | ||
| DE v FX | 7 February 2017 | NZDT 1381 | Disputes Tribunal | Bailment; Sculptures; Conversion; Abandonment; Contributory negligence; Valuation | |||
| Re BU (Migrant Investor) | 29 September 2016 | [2016] NZIPT 203435 | Immigration and Protection Tribunal | Provenance; Ownership; Chinese antiquities; Immigration | |||
| Newbery v AA Insurance Ltd | 8 October 2015 | [2015] NZHC 2457 | High Court | Insurance; Definition of artwork; Sculpture; Ornaments | LLadro | ||
| Bambury v Jensen | 2 October 2015 | [2015] NZHC 2384 | High Court | Contracts in the Art World: Lessons from the Courts | Contractual dispute (artist/dealer); Agency; Fiduciary duty | ||
| AAZ & ABA v ZZE & ZZD Ltd | 25 February 2013 | [2013] NZDT 29 | Disputes Tribunal | Art Designed to Fail – Artistic Intention v Consumer Rights | Consumer law; Art sale; Misleading conduct; Acceptable quality; Dealer skill and care; Cast-glass sculpture | ||
| Jones v Wickliffe | 7 August 2012 | [2012] NZHC 1960 | High Court | Ownership; Taonga; Kākahu; Māori custom; Estate; Trusts; Protected Objects Act; Detinue | |||
| Sydney v Sydney | 1 June 2012 | [2012] NZFC 2685 | Family Court | Relationship Property; Artist’s artworks; Art collection; Taonga; Family chattels; Gifts and inheritance | Grahame Sydney | ||
| R v Davies | 18 November 2011 | DC Wellington CRI-2011-083-1826 | District Court | Cultural property theft; Medals; Books; Memorabilia; Museum collections | Arrest for theft of 800 military medals | ||
| Van Wakeren v R | 3 October 2011 | [2011] NZCA 503 | Court of Appeal | Cultural property theft; Medals; Paintings; Rare books; Burglary | Goldie; Colin McCahon | Stolen medals returned to army museum; Goldie painting stolen from Auckland University | |
| Apatu v Apatu | 10 May 2011 | HC Napier CIV-2009-441-515, 10 May 2011High Court, Napier | High Court | Ownership; Testamentary gifts; Paintings; Taonga | Gottfried Lindauer | ||
| PJC v JC | 20 December 2010 | FAMC Christchurch FAM-2010-009-2693, 20 December 2010 | Family Court | Relationship Property; Art collection; Inheritance; Family chattels | |||
| Colmore-Williams v Prendergrast | 31 August 2010 | HC Auckland CIV-2010-404-337 | High Court | Authenticity; Fraud; Art sale; Provenance | Goldie | ||
| R v Kapa | 26 August 2010 | DC Auckland CRI-2008-083-2487 | District Court | Cultural property theft; Medals; Victoria Cross; Sentencing | Second medals thief named | ||
| Police v Spiteri | 18 January 2010 | DC Whanganui CRI-2009-083-2490 | District Court | Art theft; Paintings; Restaurant display | Article | ||
| Radford v Hallensteins Bros Limited | 2 July 2009 | DC Auckland CIV-2005-004-3008, 2 July 2009 | District Court | Copyright; Moral rights; Public sculpture; Derogatory treatment; Commercial reproduction; Strike out | John Radford | Artwork: TIP | |
| Keating and Television New Zealand Ltd | 4 June 2008 | [2008] NZBSA 60 | Broadcasting Standards Authority | Broadcasting standards; Accuracy; Fairness; Disputed ownership of artwork; Authenticity of artist’s signature; Alleged forgery; Alteration of artwork; Proposed auction sale; Copyright; Media reporting of art disputes | Philip Clairmont | ||
| R v Marshall | 17 December 2007 | [2007] NZCA 583 | Court of Appeal | Art theft; Sculpture; Receiving; Blackmail; Ransom | Article | ||
| Radford v Hallensteins Bros Limited | 22 February 2007 | HC Auckland CIV-2006-404-4881 | High Court | Copyright; Public sculpture; Section 73 exception; Underlying works; Commercial reproduction; Appeal | John Radford | Artwork: TIP | |
| R v Baleitavuki | 15 September 2006 | HC Auckland CRI-2005-004-22544 | High Court | Art theft; Receiving; Stolen paintings; Sentencing | Peter Beadle | ||
| Radford v Hallensteins Bros Limited | 17 July 2006 | DC Auckland CIV-2005-004-3008, 17 July 2006District Court, Auckland | District Court | Copyright; Public sculpture; Section 73 exception; Commercial reproduction; T-shirts; Strike out | John Radford | Artwork: TIP | |
| Solicitor-General v Uren | 11 April 2006 | HC Christchurch CIV-2005-409-1662, 11 April 2006 | High Court | Proceeds of crime; Paintings; Forfeiture; Ownership; Nemo dat | Ruifrok | ||
| RH v AF | 27 February 2006 | FAMC Auckland FAM-2005-004-1312, 27 January 2006 | Family Court | Relationship Property; Painting; Family chattel; Heirloom | |||
| Heineken Billboard Advertisement | 9 August 2005 | [2005] NZASA 262 | Advertising Standards Authority | Advertising standards; Graffiti as art | |||
| TVNZ and Page and Norris and Lee Holmes | 4 November 2004 | [2004] NZBSA 120 | Broadcasting Standards Authority | Public funding of contemporary art; Venice Biennale; Media representation of art; Broadcasting standards; Accuracy; Balance; Fairness | |||
| Lampp v Police | 1 September 2004 | HC Auckland CRI-2004-404-281 | High Court | Damage to artwork; Sculpture; Wilful damage | |||
| Van der Plaat v District Court at Invercargill | 11 August 2004 | HC Invercargill CIV-2004-425-165, 11 August 2004 | High Court | Ownership; Painting; Fraud allegation; Private prosecution | Gottfried Lindauer | ||
| Perry v West | 15 December 2003 | HC Auckland CIV2003-404-002114, 15 December 2003 | High Court | Relationship Property; Painting; Separate property; Taonga | Colin McCahon | ||
| Page v Page | 7 May 2002 | HC Wellington AP1 02 | High Court | Relationship Property; Art collection; Secret trust | Evelyn Page | ||
| Petterson v Rawleigh | 28 November 2001 | HC Wellington B320/00, 28 November 2001 | High Court | Ownership; Paintings; Inheritance | |||
| Francis v Davey | 16 August 2001 | HC Christchurch M221/00, 16 August 2001 | High Court | Estate artworks; Family Protection Act; Art collection; Antiques; Sculpture; Moral duty; Widow’s life interest | |||
| McIntyre v International Art Centre Ltd | 4 April 2001 | DC Auckland NP3884/00, 4 April 2001 District Court, Auckland | District Court | Ownership; Painting; Interpleader; Interim injunction; Preservation of ownership records | |||
| Allen’s Enterprises Ltd v Bank of New Zealand | 8 December 2000 | HC Auckland CL27/00, 8 December 2000 | High Court | Authenticity; Antiquities; Online auction; Credit-card chargeback | |||
| MacDonald v Weir | 17 October 2000 | HC Auckland CP217im00, 17 October 2000 | High Court | Copyright; Sculpture; Artistic study; Injunction; Delivery up | Richard MacDonald “Nureyev”; Michael Weir | ||
| R v Genovese | 24 September 1999 | HC Auckland T982633 | High Court | Art theft; Painting; Armed robbery; Auckland Art Gallery; Sentencing | James Tissot | Portrait of a Museum Robbery; Tissot robber tells all; | |
| Campbell-White v Prattley | 16 July 1999 | HC Auckland HC39/98 [1999] NZHC 1172 | High Court | Relationship Property; Authenticity; Overseas artwork; Benin statue | |||
| Boyd v Police | 29 April 1999 | HC Wellington AP68/99, 29 April 1999 | High Court | Art theft; Receiving; Painting | David Morrison | Article | |
| R v Te Kaha | 18 December 1998 | T No. 980938 | District Court | Art theft; Paintings; Protest; Urewera Triptych; Sentencing | Colin McCahon | Article | |
| Museum of New Zealand display ‘virgin in condom’ allowed under legislation | 1 January 1998 | [1998] NZOmbCN 40043 | Ombudsman | Public museums; Curatorial discretion; Offensive art; Ombudsmen jurisdiction | Tania Kovats, Virgin in a Condom | Virgin in a Condom: Te Papa’s baptism by fire; Article; ‘Virgin in a Condom’ artwork provoked violence month after Te Papa opening | |
| Ansell v State Insurance | 27 March 1997 | HC New Plymouth CP12/95, 27 March 1997, High Court, New Plymouth | High Court | Insurance; Art valuation; Fraud | Tom Keating | ||
| Warwick Henderson Gallery | 7 February 1995 | [1994] NZASA 270 | Advertising Standards Authority | Advertising standards; Misrepresentation of artwork availability | |||
| White v Potter | 29 July 1994 | DC Auckland Plt387/92 | District Court | Bailment; Gallery liability; Theft of painting | |||
| Panoho and Radio New Zealand Ltd | 18 April 1994 | [1994] NZBSA 17 | Broadcasting Standards Authority | Cultural appropriation; Māori symbolism; Koru motif; Contemporary art criticism; Media representation of art; Broadcasting standards; Accuracy; Fairness | Gordon Walters; Theo Schoon | ||
| Doyle v Borick | 1 November 1989 | HC Dunedin M124 89 | High Court | Ownership; Chain of title; Fraud; Power of attorney; Theft allegation | Frances Hodgkins | Frances Hodgkins – And Age is the Time of Peace | |
| Department of Internal Affairs v The Poverty Bay Club Inc | 14 April 1989 | DC Gisborne, 14 April 1989 | District Court | Protected Objects; Export; Captain James Cook letters | |||
| R v Sim | 30 April 1987 | CA260 86 | Court of Appeal | Art forgery; Authentication | Goldie; Petrus Van der Velden; Rita Agnus; Karl Sim | Article: Famous forger | |
| Young and Mullens v Commercial Union General Insurance Co Ltd | 24 September 1986 | HC Palmerston North A83/84, 24 September 1986 | High Court | Insurance; Valuation; Measure of indemnity; Unique antique | |||
| Cleminson v Cleminson | 9 August 1985 | [1985] NZHC 550 | High Court | Relationship Property; Investment art; Family chattel; Painting | Frances Hodgkins | ||
| Giles v Giles | 27 June 1984 | CA138/83, 27 July 1984 | Court of Appeal | Relationship Property; Gift; Painting | Goldie | ||
| Attorney General of New Zealand v Ortiz | 21 April 1983 | [1984] A.C. 1; [1983] 2 W.L.R. 809; [1983] 2 All E.R. 93; [1983] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 265; [1983] 4 WLUK 93; (1983) 133 N.L.J. 537; (1983) 127 S.J. 307 | House of Lords | Protected Objects; Export; Conflict of laws; Māori carvings; Forfeiture | |||
| Chandulal v Chandulal | 5 November 1981 | HC Hamilton M 414/80 [1981] NZHC 176; (1981) 5 MPC 11 | High Court | Relationship Property; Trusts; Family chattel; Lindauer paintings | Gottfried Lindauer | Documentary: Gottfried Lindauer in New Zealand (paintings from case visible at 20:01-20:15) | |
| Turner v Baigent | 4 February 1952 | SC Auckland [1952] NZPoliceLawRp 3; (1952) 8 New Zealand Police Law Reports 248; [1952] NZLR 271; [1952] GLR 151 | Supreme Court (equivalent to current High Court) | Artist; Commercial activity; Sunday trading; Mural | |||
| Police v Turner | 30 August 1951 | (Magistrates Court, Auckland) [1951] NZMCRp 43; (1951) 46 MCR 130 (30 August 1951) | Magistrates Court (equivalent to current District Court) | Artist; Commercial activity; Sunday trading; Mural | |||
| Clarkson v McCarthy | 30 July 1917 | SC Auckland [1917] NZPoliceLawRp 19; (1917) 1 New Zealand Police Law Reports 106; [1917] NZLR 624; [1917] GLR 401 | Supreme Court (equivalent to current High Court) | Obscenity; Art; Public display; Indecent publication | Giorgione “Sleeping Venus” | ||
| Vautier v Fear | 13 June 1916 | SC Hamilton [1916] NZGazLawRp 111; (1916) 18 GLR 524 | Supreme Court (equivalent to current High Court) | Sale of goods; Commissioned design; Art commission analogy | |||
| Police v Arsene Le Petit | 8 June 1908 | (Magistrates Court, Napier) [1908] NZMCRp 71 | Magistrates Court (equivalent to current District Court) | Obscenity; Art; Public display; Nude pictures | Article: Not Art |
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| Police v Lawrence | 8 October 1906 | (Magistrates Court, Auckland) [1906] NZMCRp 125; (1906) 1 MCR 169 | Magistrates Court (equivalent to current District Court) | Obscenity; Art; Sale of pictures; Nude pictures | Lord Frederic Leighton “Psyche’s Bath“; Paul Thumann “Psyche at Nature’s Mirror”; | ||
| R v James Young | 3 March 1866 | [1866] NZLostC 112 | Supreme Court (equivalent to current High Court) | James Young and the Museum Robbery: New Zealand’s First Art-Theft Case? | Cultural property theft; Museum burglary; Housebreaking; Sentencing | Article |
