(a) Abbreviation

Abbreviate the name of the law report. In the first instance, use the abbreviation provided by the report, removing all unnecessary punctuation. If the report does not provide an abbreviation, consult the Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations, available at <www.legalabbrevs.cardiff.ac.uk>, for international reports. For New Zealand reports, use the Legal Citations for Aotearoa New Zealand database, available at <www.lcanz.auckland.ac.nz>.

(b) Series number

Some overseas reports have been published in a number of series. When citing such a report, indicate the series being cited to in round brackets after the report abbreviation.

Eg Bazley v Curry (1999) 174 DLR (4th) 45 (SCC).

(c) Official series

Where a case appears in different reports, the official report series must be cited. Official report series are sanctioned by the courts of a particular country or by a body such as the New Zealand Council for Law Reporting.

In New Zealand, the official report series is the NZLR. Accordingly, where a Privy Council judgment on appeal from New Zealand is reported in both the NZLR and the AC (Appeal Cases), cite the NZLR report.

Eg Buchanan v Jennings [2004] UKPC 36, [2005] 2 NZLR 577.

NOT Buchanan v Jennings [2004] UKPC 36, [2005] 1 AC 115.

(d) Unofficial series

Where a case is not reported in an official report series, use an unofficial series.

Cite general report series in preference to subject-specific report series as they are generally more widely available. For example, citation to the All ER (All England Law Reports), the ALR (Australian Law Reports) and the DLR (Dominion Law Reports) is preferable where a case is not reported in an official report series.

Eg Ad Valorem Factors Ltd v Ricketts [2003] EWCA Civ 1706, [2004] 1 All ER 894.

NOT Ad Valorem Factors Ltd v Ricketts [2003] EWCA Civ 1706, [2004] 1 BCLC 1.

Cite to reports of full decisions in preference to citation to extracts or digests, such as Butterworths Current Law.

Eg Housing New Zealand Ltd v Waitakere City Council [2001] NZRMA 202 (CA).

NOT Housing New Zealand Ltd v Waitakere City Council [2001] BCL 152.

Eg Crown Dilum v Sutton [2004] EWHC 52 (Ch), [2004] 1 BCLC 468.

NOT Crown Dilum v Sutton [2004] EWHC 52 (Ch), [2004] All ER (D) 222 (Jan).

Where a decision is reported in two unofficial subject-specific report series, either series may be cited. Where one series is more widely or easily available than the other, cite the more widely or easily available series.

(e) Early New Zealand report series

Before the New Zealand Law Reports began publishing cases, a number of earlier report series, including those listed below, reported New Zealand cases. Examples of citation to cases in those report series are given below.

Macassey’s Reports (1861–1872)

Eg Bruce v Harris (1865) Mac 386 (SC).

Colonial Law Journal (1865–1875)

Eg Fooks v The Church Property Trustees (1865) 1 Col LJ 1 (SC).

New Zealand Court of Appeal Reports (1867–1877)

Eg Cameron v The Otago Daily Times & Witness Co (Ltd) (1867) 1 NZCA 1.

New Zealand Jurist (1873–1879)

Eg Sinclair v The Queen (1872) 1 NZ Jur 29 (CA).

New Zealand Jurist Reports (New Series) (1875–1879)

Eg Brogden v Millar (1875) 1 NZ Jur (NS) 1 (CA).