Plain language law

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Crimes Act 1961

Matters of justification or excuse - Ignorance of law

25: Ignorance of law

You could also call this:

"Not knowing the law is no excuse for breaking it"

Illustration for Crimes Act 1961

If you do something against the law, not knowing the law is not an excuse. You are still responsible for what you did. The law says that being ignorant of the law does not make what you did okay.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM328230.

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Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
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Part 3Matters of justification or excuse
Ignorance of law

25Ignorance of law

  1. The fact that an offender is ignorant of the law is not an excuse for any offence committed by him or her.

Compare
  • 1908 No 32 s 45