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Legal Personhood to Taranaki Maunga
Context:
Taranaki Maunga, the second-highest mountain on New Zealand’s North Island, has been granted legal personhood.
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- This makes Taranaki Maunga the third natural feature in New Zealand to receive the same rights, duties, and protections as an individual.
- This aligns with the Māori worldview, recognising natural features as sacred ancestors.
Natural Entities Granted Legal Personhood
- India: In 2017, the Uttarakhand High Court declared the Ganges and Yamuna rivers as legal persons, aiming to protect them from pollution and environmental degradation.
- Colombia: In 2016, Colombia’s Constitutional Court recognised the Atrato River as a legal entity, citing the need to protect it from pollution and environmental harm. This ruling was influenced by the river’s importance to local Indigenous communities.
- Canada: In 2021, the Magpie River in Quebec was granted legal personhood, becoming the first river in Canada to receive such status. This designation was driven by the river’s cultural significance to the Innu First Nation and environmental conservation efforts.
Legislative and Management Changes
- New Zealand’s parliament passed the law on January 30, 2025, fulfilling a promise made in 2017.
- Ownership transferred from the government to a co-governance model involving Māori iwi (tribes) and government representatives.
- The legal personality is named Te Kāhui Tupua, representing the mountain and its surrounding peaks and environment.
- New governing body established with four Māori iwi representatives and four government-appointed members.
Official Name Recognition
- The mountain will now be officially referred to as Taranaki Maunga, shedding its former colonial name, Mount Egmont (by British explorer Captain James Cook in 1770).
- The legal personhood status extends to the surrounding environment, collectively called Te Kāhui Tupua.
Historical and Cultural Significance
- Taranaki Maunga, a dormant volcano standing at 2,518 meters (8,261 feet), is one of New Zealand’s most beloved natural landmarks.
- The mountain holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for the Taranaki Māori iwi (tribes), who regard it as a sacred ancestor.
- The recognition aims to redress colonial injustices, including the 1865 land confiscations that stripped Māori of their traditional rights and management of the mountain.
Part of a Larger Movement for Indigenous Justice
- Third natural feature in New Zealand to receive legal personhood:
- Te Urewera (2014) – former national park.
- Whanganui River (2017) – first river in the world to gain legal personhood.
- Part of New Zealand’s ongoing reconciliation efforts with Māori communities.
- Acknowledges historical injustices, particularly land confiscation and breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi (1840).
- Chief negotiator Jamie Tuuta described the moment as a mix of historic achievement and a reminder of past struggles.
Implications for Conservation and Public Access
- Legal status ensures environmental protection and traditional Māori guardianship.
- Activities on the mountain, including tourism and outdoor recreation, will continue but under culturally and environmentally responsible guidelines.
- Prevents forced sales and harmful exploitation of the land.
- Conservation initiatives to restore native wildlife and ecosystems.
National and Global Impact
- Unanimous parliamentary support (123 lawmakers); greeted with waiata (Māori song) from Māori representatives in the gallery.
- Similar initiatives have taken place globally, including the recognition of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in India and the Atrato River in Colombia as legal entities.
- These landmark decisions emphasise a growing shift towards recognising nature’s intrinsic rights, ensuring environmental protection and Indigenous cultural preservation.
Future Prospects
- Ongoing management will integrate Māori traditions, ecological protection, and public use.
- Strengthens Indigenous legal rights and environmental governance worldwide.
- Symbol of Māori resilience, reinforcing the interconnectedness of people, land, and nature in Aotearoa (New Zealand).
