Booth v Ministry of Transport - [1988] 2 NZLR 217

Criminal law — Mens rea — Statutory offences — Onus of proof — Driving while disqualified — Defendant drove two days after being disqualified in the belief that disqualification did not commence until his licence was handed to a traffic officer — Genuineness of his belief was not in dispute — Whether mistake of law or of fact or both — Whether the defendant's mistake was a defence to the charge — Whether mens rea had been established — Transport Act 1962, ss 35 and 36.