New Zealand's Mt Taranaki Awarded Legal Rights as a Person

The new law aims to address historical injustices faced by local Māori due to colonization, emphasizing environmental protection and collaboration.

In a historic move, New Zealand's Mt Taranaki has been legally recognized as a person, following years of negotiations aimed at rectifying past injustices faced by the Māori communities in the region. The recently enacted Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill allows the mountain, revered by local Māori as an ancestral being, to effectively own itself, fostering cooperation among the local tribes, iwi, and government bodies to manage the sacred site.

This legislation is intended to acknowledge and compensate the Māori for widespread land confiscation during colonization. Government minister Paul Goldsmith emphasized the importance of recognizing historical grievances to pave the way for future opportunities for the iwi. "We must acknowledge the hurt that has been caused by past wrongs, so we can look to the future to support iwi to realize their own aspirations and opportunities," he stated.

The new law, which was passed by New Zealand's parliament, provides the mountain with a legal identity while also protecting its surrounding lands and peaks. It further affirms the Māori perspective of natural features as ancestors and living entities. "Today, Taranaki, our maunga, our maunga tupuna, is released from the shackles of injustice, ignorance, and hate," expressed Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of the Māori Party.

Significantly, Mt Taranaki will no longer be referred to by its colonial name, Egmont, and will instead be officially recognized by its Māori name, Taranaki Maunga. The surrounding national park will also adopt its original Māori title. Many locals, including Aisha Campbell, highlighted the deep connection to the mountain as a unifying force for the people of Taranaki.

This settlement forms part of New Zealand's ongoing efforts to reconcile with its indigenous Māori people and address the violations of the Treaty of Waitangi—a foundational document that guaranteed Māori rights to land and resources. The government also issued an apology for the past confiscation, which included Mt Taranaki and over a million acres of land during the 1860s.

Goldsmith acknowledged the long-lasting damages inflicted upon the Māori communities, stressing the agreed terms for access to the mountain would remain unchanged, ensuring that all New Zealanders could continue to experience this cherished landmark.

This development follows similar precedents in New Zealand, as Mt Taranaki joins the ranks of the Urewera native forest and the Whanganui River, both of which have been previously granted legal personhood.