The New Zealand Climate Science Education Trust (Trust) sought judicial review of climate data published by a government owned research institute. The Trust contended that the institute had employed the wrong methodology to adjust historic temperature data. The High Court held that courts should give considerable deference to specialist agencies in relation to their areas of expertise, and that on the facts of the case the research institute had used credible scientific methods to carry out its work and there was no basis for judicial review. The court ordered the Trust to pay close to $90,000 in court fees for its challenge.
The New Zealand Court of Appeal upheld the award, agreeing with the High Court that the “public interest grounds” for the challenge did not justify a reduction in its liability.