In a historic move, New Zealand has granted legal personhood to Mount Taranaki, now officially recognized as Taranaki Maunga, reinforcing the country’s commitment to Indigenous rights and environmental conservation. The law, passed unanimously, acknowledges the mountain as a living entity with rights and responsibilities, marking a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing reconciliation efforts with the Māori people.
The recognition of Taranaki Maunga as a legal person means that the mountain now has the same rights, duties, and liabilities as a human being under New Zealand law. The legal entity, named Te Kāhui Tupua, encompasses not just the mountain itself but also its surrounding peaks and land, integrating both its physical and spiritual aspects.
This decision aligns with a broader movement in New Zealand to recognize nature as having inherent rights. Similar recognition was granted to Te Urewera, a vast native forest, in 2014 and the Whanganui River in 2017, making New Zealand a pioneer in legal frameworks that acknowledge the personhood of natural entities.
For centuries, the Māori people of the Taranaki region have considered Taranaki Maunga an ancestral figure, a sacred provider of sustenance and a final resting place for their ancestors. However, during the colonial era, the mountain was renamed Mount Egmont by British explorer Captain James Cook in 1770. Later, in 1865, vast portions of Taranaki land, including the mountain itself, were confiscated as punishment for Māori resistance against the British Crown. This act stripped the Māori of their traditional rights, severing their deep connection with the mountain.
For decades, Māori communities fought to have their voices heard. Their efforts intensified during the Māori protest movements of the 1970s and 1980s, leading to a resurgence of Māori culture, language, and legal recognition. The recent decision to grant the mountain personhood fulfills part of a 2023 settlement between the government and the eight tribes of Taranaki, aiming to redress past injustices.
With its new legal status, Taranaki Maunga will now be represented by a governing body consisting of four members from local Māori iwi (tribes) and four appointed by New Zealand’s Conservation Minister. This group will serve as the mountain’s “face and voice,” ensuring that decisions made align with the mountain’s well-being and cultural significance.
The personhood status prevents any future sale or exploitation of the land while promoting conservation efforts to protect native wildlife and restore traditional Māori practices. Public access to the mountain for recreational activities such as hiking and skiing will remain, but decisions about tourism and development will now consider the mountain’s legal rights and Indigenous perspectives.
New Zealand’s approach to granting legal personhood to natural features has inspired other countries to consider similar measures. In India, the Ganges and Yamuna rivers were declared legal persons in 2017 to combat pollution and environmental degradation. Ecuador and Bolivia have incorporated the “Rights of Nature” into their constitutions, recognizing nature’s intrinsic value.
This growing legal movement challenges traditional perspectives that treat nature as property and instead frames it as a living entity that requires protection. Indigenous knowledge, which emphasizes harmony between people and nature, plays a crucial role in these legal transformations.
The unanimous vote in Parliament signifies a rare moment of unity in New Zealand’s often-contentious race relations. The recognition of Taranaki Maunga as a legal person is not just a symbolic gesture but a powerful act of justice for the Māori people, acknowledging their deep spiritual and cultural ties to the land.
As the world grapples with environmental crises, New Zealand’s decision offers a model for other nations to rethink their relationship with nature. By recognizing natural features as legal persons, societies can move towards more ethical, sustainable, and inclusive environmental policies that respect both Indigenous rights and the natural world.
