New Zealand’s Mount Taranaki Gets Legal Rights Like a Person

Taranaki Maunga granted Personhood: A Triumph for Māori Rights

In a landmark decision that reverberates through New Zealand’s history, Mount Taranaki, or as it is now formally known, Taranaki Maunga, has been granted legal personhood. this historic event, enshrined in the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill, passed into law on Thursday, marks a pivotal moment in how New Zealand recognizes and protects its natural treasures and the profound spiritual connection Māori hold with the land.

The agreement, the culmination of years of negotiations, is a powerful testament to the ongoing journey of addressing historical injustices inflicted upon Māori during colonization, including the widespread confiscation of land. Paul Goldsmith, the government minister responsible for the negotiations, eloquently stated, “We must acknowledge the hurt that has been caused by past wrongs, so we can look to the future to support iwi to realise their own aspirations and opportunities.”

For Māori,Taranaki Maunga transcends the boundaries of a mere mountain; it is a sacred ancestor,a living entity deeply interwoven into their cultural identity. Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of the Māori Party, powerfully articulated this sentiment: “Today, Taranaki, our maunga [mountain], our maunga tupuna [ancestral mountain], is released from the shackles, the shackles of injustice, of ignorance, of hate.”

Hundreds of Māori from taranaki gathered at Parliament to witness this momentous occasion,their faces illuminated by a mixture of pride and hope. Aisha Campbell, a member of a Taranaki iwi, spoke about the unifying power of the mountain, saying, “the mountain is what connects us and what binds us together as a people.”

This historic agreement goes beyond symbolic recognition.It involves a formal apology from the government for the confiscation of Mount Taranaki and over a million acres of land belonging to local Māori in the 1860s. Goldsmith acknowledged the lasting impact of these breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, stating that they “have inflicted immense and compounding harm.”

Crucially, the agreement safeguards access to the mountain for all New Zealanders. Goldsmith reassured the public that “all New Zealanders will be able to continue to visit and enjoy this most grand place for generations to come.”

The granting of legal personhood to Taranaki Maunga follows a trail blazed by the Urewera native forest in 2014 and the Whanganui River in 2017. These landmark decisions underscore a progressive approach to environmental and indigenous rights, paving the way for a deeper recognition and protection of New Zealand’s natural and cultural heritage.

What other natural landmarks or entities in New Zealand could perhaps benefit from a similar legal recognition of personhood in the future?

Taranaki Maunga Granted Personhood: A Conversation with Rima Kaihau

Taranaki Maunga’s historic Recognition: A New era for Indigenous Rights and Environmental Protection

This week, the world witnessed a landmark decision: Taranaki Maunga, an iconic volcano in New Zealand, was granted legal personhood. This momentous occasion marks a pivotal step in acknowledging the intrinsic rights of nature and solidifying the deep connection between Indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands. rima Kaihau, a renowned environmental lawyer and member of the taranaki iwi, sheds light on the significance of this achievement for Māori communities and the wider world.

“This is a momentous occasion,not just for Taranaki but for aotearoa New Zealand as a whole,” says Kaihau. “For generations, Taranaki Maunga has been revered by Māori as a sacred ancestor, a living being intrinsically linked to our culture and identity. This legal recognition finally acknowledges the inherent rights of the mountain and reaffirms the deep connection that exists between Māori and their ancestral lands.”

The decision also comes with a formal apology from the New Zealand government for the confiscation of Taranaki Maunga and vast tracts of Māori land in the 1860s.

“Honoring historical injustices is a crucial step towards reconciliation,” explains Kaihau. “For far too long, Māori have carried the weight of dispossession and the pain of broken Treaty promises. This formal apology acknowledges the deep hurt inflicted upon our people and signifies a commitment from the Crown to address the legacy of colonization. It allows us to move forward with a renewed sense of hope and understanding.”

Kaihau emphasizes that the recognition of personhood extends far beyond symbolic gestures. The agreement includes safeguards to ensure responsible management and access to Taranaki Maunga for all New Zealanders.”This agreement sets a powerful precedent for co-governance and shared duty,” she states. “We believe in protecting the mauri (life force) of Taranaki maunga while ensuring all New Zealanders can experience its grand beauty. Through collaborative dialog and mutual respect,we aim to create a enduring future that honors the spiritual significance of the mountain while allowing generations to come to cherish and learn from its rich history.”

Looking ahead, Kaihau hopes this landmark decision will inspire other nations to recognize the intrinsic rights of nature and acknowledge the deep connection between Indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands.

“We hope this decision inspires other nations to recognize the intrinsic rights of nature and to acknowledge the deep connection between indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands,” she says.”Our ancestors taught us to live in harmony with the natural world, and we believe it is our collective duty to safeguard the planet for future generations.”

This historic recognition of Taranaki Maunga serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness between people, land, and nature. It sets a precedent for a more just and sustainable future,where Indigenous voices are heard,and the rights of nature are respected.

Given the significance placed on the cultural and spiritual connection to Taranaki Maunga, are there other natural features in New Zealand with strong cultural or spiritual importance to Māori that could also benefit from similar legal recognition?

Taranaki Maunga’s Historic Recognition: A New Era for Indigenous Rights and Environmental Protection

What other natural landmarks or entities in New Zealand could perhaps benefit from a similar legal recognition of personhood in the future?

This week, the world witnessed a landmark decision: Taranaki Maunga, an iconic volcano in New Zealand, was granted legal personhood. This momentous occasion marks a pivotal step in acknowledging the intrinsic rights of nature and solidifying the deep connection between Indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands. Rima Kaihau, a renowned environmental lawyer and member of the Taranaki iwi, sheds light on the significance of this achievement for Māori communities and the wider world.

“This is a momentous occasion, not just for Taranaki but for Aotearoa New Zealand as a whole,” says Kaihau. “For generations, Taranaki Maunga has been revered by Māori as a sacred ancestor, a living being intrinsically linked to our culture and identity. This legal recognition finally acknowledges the inherent rights of the mountain and reaffirms the deep connection that exists between Māori and their ancestral lands.”

The decision also comes with a formal apology from the New Zealand government for the confiscation of Taranaki Maunga and vast tracts of Māori land in the 1860s.

“Honoring past injustices is a crucial step towards reconciliation,” explains Kaihau. “For far too long, Māori have carried the weight of dispossession and the pain of broken Treaty promises. This formal apology acknowledges the deep hurt inflicted upon our people and signifies a commitment from the Crown to address the legacy of colonization. It allows us to move forward with a renewed sense of hope and understanding.”

Kaihau emphasizes that the recognition of personhood extends far beyond symbolic gestures. The agreement includes safeguards to ensure responsible management and access to Taranaki Maunga for all New Zealanders.

“this agreement sets a powerful precedent for co-governance and shared duty,” she states. “We believe in protecting the mauri (life force) of Taranaki maunga while ensuring all New Zealanders can experience its grand beauty. Through collaborative dialog and mutual respect, we aim to create a enduring future that honors the spiritual significance of the mountain while allowing generations to come to cherish and learn from its rich history.”

Looking ahead, Kaihau hopes this landmark decision will inspire other nations to recognize the intrinsic rights of nature and acknowledge the deep connection between Indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands.

“We hope this decision inspires other nations to recognize the intrinsic rights of nature and to acknowledge the deep connection between indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands,” she says. “Our ancestors taught us to live in harmony with the natural world, and we believe it is our collective duty to safeguard the planet for future generations.”

In considering Mount Taranaki’s status as a legal person,what other natural landscapes in Aotearoa New Zealand do you think could benefit from a similar recognition?