New Zealand Supreme Court Restores Worldwide Anti‑Enforcement Orders in Kea Investments Fraud Case

The New Zealand Supreme Court issued a detailed judgment in Kea Investments Ltd v Wikeley, reinstating worldwide anti‑suit and anti‑enforcement injunctions against former New Zealand businessman Ken Wikeley and his associated entities. The Court affirmed that the Kentucky default judgment of US$123.75 million was obtained through a fraudulent scheme involving a fabricated 2012 Coal Agreement, which was used to extract money from Kea Investments Ltd, a British Virgin Islands company linked to Sir Owen Glenn.

The judgment emphasized that international comity does not bar relief when a foreign proceeding is wrongful, describing the fraud as “elaborate worldwide” and noting that such injunctions are granted only in rare, exceptional circumstances. The decision restores the High Court’s 2025 orders and provides guidance on the interplay between fraud, comity, and anti‑enforcement remedies.