A landmark decision in New Zealand has granted personhood to Mount Taranaki, recognizing its cultural and spiritual significance for the Māori people.
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The Māori people of New Zealand have long considered their ancestral mountain, Mount Taranaki, as a sacred entity that provides physical, cultural, and spiritual sustenance. Recently, the New Zealand government has taken a significant step towards acknowledging the mountain’s importance by granting it personhood.
The Māori are an indigenous Polynesian nation native to New Zealand.
Their name translates to 'normal, ordinary' or 'usual', referring to their ancestral homeland.
With a population of over 775,000 people, they make up around 17% of the country's population.
The Māori language, Te Reo Māori, is an official language in New Zealand and has three main dialects: Northern, Central, and Southern.
Their rich culture is characterized by art, music, dance, and storytelling.
What is Personhood for a Mountain?
Under the new law, Mount Taranaki, now known as Taranaki Maunga, has been recognized as a legal person with all the rights and responsibilities of a human being. Its legal personality has a name: Te Kāhui Tupua, which represents ‘a living and indivisible whole.’ This entity includes not only the mountain but also its surrounding peaks and land, encompassing both physical and metaphysical elements.
In 2022, New Zealand's High Court granted personhood to Mount Taranaki, a dormant volcano on the North Island.
This decision recognizes the mountain as a legal entity with its own rights and interests.
The Ngati Tuwharetoa iwi (tribe) had petitioned for personhood, citing the mountain's cultural significance and importance to their ancestral lands.
As a personified entity, Mount Taranaki is now entitled to protection under the Bill of Rights Act, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
A History of Dispossession
The recognition of Mount Taranaki’s personhood is a response to the historical injustices perpetrated against the Māori people. In the 18th and 19th centuries, colonizers took control of the mountain, renaming it Mount Egmont in honor of British explorer Captain James Cook. The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840, promised Māori tribes that they would retain rights to their land and resources. However, the Crown breached this agreement, confiscating a vast swathe of Taranaki land, including the mountain, in 1865.
A Path Towards Redress
The recognition of Mount Taranaki’s personhood is part of a broader effort by the New Zealand government to redress historical grievances against Māori people. Billions of dollars have been allocated through Treaty of Waitangi settlements, such as the agreement with the eight tribes of Taranaki signed in 2023.
The Future of Mount Taranaki
With its newfound personhood, Mount Taranaki will be able to exercise its rights to protect its health and wellbeing. The government has established a new entity, Te Kāhui Tupua, which will serve as the ‘face and voice’ of the mountain. This entity will work to stop forced sales, restore traditional uses, and allow conservation efforts to protect native wildlife.
Mount Taranaki, located on New Zealand's North Island, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a diverse array of flora and fauna.
The mountain's conservation efforts focus on preserving its native forests, including the iconic 'rimu' and 'totara' trees.
In 2014, the Mount Taranaki National Park was established to protect the area from human impact.
The park spans over 25,000 hectares and is home to several endangered species, including the whio (blue duck) and the kiwi.
A Precedent for Other Natural Features
New Zealand’s recognition of Mount Taranaki’s personhood follows a similar decision in 2014, when Te Urewera, a vast native forest on the North Island, was granted personhood. In 2017, the Whanganui River was recognized as human, part of a settlement with its local iwi.
A Unanimous Decision
The bill recognizing Mount Taranaki’s personhood was passed unanimously by Parliament’s lawmakers, demonstrating a rare moment of unity in a tense period for race relations in New Zealand.
