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NZ mountain now has the same legal rights as people
The second-highest mountain in New Zealand has been granted legal rights and responsibilities equivalent to those of a human being through the recent passing of a landmark bill.
Grace Robbie
Last week, the New Zealand Parliament enacted the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill, which has formally recognised a mountain, regarded as an ancestor by its Indigenous peoples, as a legal person.
Taranaki Maunga, previously known as Mount Taranaki, has become the third natural feature in New Zealand to be granted legal personhood, following Whanganui River in 2017 and Te Urewera National Park in 2014.
This new legislation means the mountain “will have its own legal identity, with rights, responsibilities, and protections”.
Ginny Andersen, a member of the New Zealand Parliament’s House of Representatives, expressed that giving these rights to Taranaki Maunga “acknowledges its status as more than just a landscape. It is an ancestor, a source of life, and a guiding presence for the people of Taranaki.”
She added: “Taranaki Maunga has always been more than just a mountain. It is an ancestor, a protector, and a source of strength for the iwi hapū in Taranaki. It has shaped the identity, the culture, and the spiritual wellbeing of generations before and for generations to come.”
The passing of the bill seeks to address the historical injustices suffered by the Maori of the Taranaki region, who had their lands stolen from them during the period of colonisation in New Zealand.
Dan Bidois, a member of the New Zealand Parliament, expressed that the enacting of the legislation is “a chance for the Crown and this Parliament to acknowledge the past and right the wrongs of the past so that the iwi of Taranaki can focus on the future”.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of the political party Te Pāti Māori, shared that “Taranaki is freed from the shackles. It’s freed from the shackles of muru raupatu. Today, Taranaki, our maunga tupuna is released from the shackles of injustice, of ignorance, and of hate.”
The new law also outlined that a newly formed group would be established and designated as “the face and voice” of the mountain. This group will comprise eight members, with four members selected from the local Maori tribes and four appointed by New Zealand’s Conservation Minister.
Despite being granted legal personhood, New Zealand’s Minister of Justice, Paul Goldsmith, has indicated that this new legal status does not affect public access to the mountain.
“A firm condition for the Crown is that all New Zealanders will be able to continue to visit and enjoy this most magnificent place for generations to come,” Goldsmith said.
