In a groundbreaking move that underscores the growing recognition of Indigenous rights and environmental stewardship, New Zealand has granted legal personhood to Mount Taranaki, now officially recognized by its Māori name, Taranaki Maunga. The new legislation, passed unanimously by Parliament on Thursday, gives the revered mountain the same legal rights, responsibilities, and protections as a human being.
The pristine, snow-capped dormant volcano, standing at 2,518 meters (8,261 feet) on New Zealand’s North Island, is a popular destination for tourists, hikers, and snow sports enthusiasts. Beyond its natural beauty, Taranaki Maunga holds immense cultural and spiritual significance for local Māori iwi (tribes), who regard it as a sacred ancestor.
This legal recognition not only honors centuries of Māori reverence for the mountain but also seeks to redress the injustices inflicted during New Zealand’s colonial history.
The story of Taranaki Maunga is intertwined with the history of colonization in New Zealand. Captain James Cook, the British explorer, renamed the peak Mount Egmont when he first sighted it in 1770. Despite the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, which promised Māori control over their lands and resources, Crown breaches of the agreement were immediate and severe.
In 1865, as punishment for Māori resistance to British rule, vast tracts of land in the Taranaki region — including the mountain — were confiscated. For generations, Māori were excluded from the mountain’s management, and traditional practices were banned, while hunting and tourism flourished.
Paul Goldsmith, the government official overseeing Māori settlement agreements, acknowledged these historical wrongs in his address to Parliament. “Traditional Māori practices associated with the mountain were banned while tourism was promoted,” he said. “This law is a step toward righting those wrongs.”
The legal personhood granted to Taranaki Maunga recognizes the mountain as a living and indivisible entity, encompassing its physical and metaphysical elements. Its legal personality is named Te Kāhui Tupua, which symbolizes a living entity that includes the mountain and its surrounding peaks and land.
A newly created governing body will serve as the “face and voice” of the mountain, comprising four representatives from local Māori iwi and four members appointed by New Zealand’s Conservation Minister. The entity will oversee decisions concerning the mountain’s conservation, protection, and traditional uses.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of the political party Te Pāti Māori and a descendant of the Taranaki iwi, expressed deep emotion at the passing of the bill. “Today, Taranaki, our maunga, our maunga tupuna, is released from the shackles of injustice, ignorance, and hate,” she said. “We grew up knowing there was nothing anyone could do to make us any less connected.”
The legal rights conferred upon Taranaki Maunga will be instrumental in protecting its health and wellbeing. This includes preventing forced sales, restoring traditional uses, and allowing conservation work to safeguard native wildlife.
Public access will remain, ensuring that tourists and outdoor enthusiasts can continue to enjoy the mountain’s stunning beauty. However, activities will be carefully managed to ensure they align with the mountain’s health and cultural significance.
“This isn’t about limiting people’s experiences with the mountain — it’s about honoring and protecting it for future generations,” said Ngarewa-Packer.
New Zealand has been a pioneer in recognizing natural features as legal persons. In 2014, the country granted legal personhood to Te Urewera, a vast native forest on the North Island, ending government ownership and making the Tūhoe tribe its guardian. The forest was described in law as “alive with history” and possessing immense spiritual significance.
Three years later, the Whanganui River received similar recognition, becoming the first river in the world to be legally recognized as a living entity.
These landmark decisions have inspired similar movements globally, as countries grapple with the need to protect natural resources and recognize Indigenous connections to the land.
The vote to recognize Taranaki Maunga’s personhood was met with unanimous support from all 123 lawmakers in New Zealand’s Parliament. As the bill was affirmed, the public gallery, filled with Māori representatives and supporters, broke into a moving waiata (Māori song), echoing through the chamber.
The historic moment provided a rare display of unity during a period of heightened racial tensions in the country. Recent months have seen tens of thousands of people march to Parliament in protest against proposed changes to the Treaty of Waitangi that critics fear would erode Māori rights.
While the controversial bill is not expected to pass, it has highlighted ongoing challenges in race relations and the importance of continued recognition of Māori culture and sovereignty.
The recognition of Taranaki Maunga as a legal person is a significant milestone in New Zealand’s journey toward reconciliation with its Indigenous peoples. It acknowledges not only the spiritual and cultural value of the mountain but also the historical injustices suffered by the Taranaki Māori.
Ngarewa-Packer emphasized that the connection between the mountain and her people could never be broken. “We have always known the mountain as our ancestor, and today that is finally recognized in law,” she said.
As Taranaki Maunga stands tall against the sky, it symbolizes both the resilience of the Māori people and a future where Indigenous rights and environmental conservation are deeply intertwined. The mountain’s new legal status ensures that it will be protected and honored for generations to come, a living testament to the enduring spirit of Aotearoa New Zealand.
