New Zealand recognises mountain as a person
New Zealand has officially recognised Mount Taranaki as a legal person.
The mountain, which is sacred to the indigenous Maori people, will now have its own legal identity. This means it will be treated like a person in the eyes of the law, with representatives speaking on its behalf to protect its well-being.
According to CNN, the decision was made by New Zealand’s Parliament on January 30, with all lawmakers voting in favour.
Under the new law, a group of eight people—four from local Maori tribes and four appointed by the government—will act as the mountain’s voice.
They will help make decisions about its care, conservation, and protection.
Mount Taranaki, a 2,500-meter dormant volcano, is an important landmark on the country’s North Island. For centuries, the Maori have considered it an ancestor and a source of spiritual and cultural strength. But in the past, they had little say in how the land was managed.
The new law also acknowledges a painful history when the mountain was taken from the Maori in 1865 when British colonizers seized land as punishment for local resistance.
This was despite an earlier agreement, the Treaty of Waitangi, which was supposed to protect Maori land rights.
Mount Taranaki is now the third natural feature in New Zealand to receive legal personhood. A forest was granted the same status in 2014, and a river followed in 2017.
The move comes at a time when many Maori are pushing back against efforts to weaken their rights.
Supporters of the law say it is an important step toward justice and protecting the environment.
