New Zealand has officially recognized Taranaki Maunga as a legal person, granting the mountain all the rights and responsibilities of a human being. The decision, enshrined in the Treaty BillTe Pire Whakatupua m Te Khui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill, represents a significant step toward acknowledging the injustices suffered by the Mori people due to colonization.

The bill was unanimously affirmed by Parliament’s 123 lawmakers, and its passage was celebrated with a waiataa traditional Mori songfrom a packed public gallery.

A Mountain of Cultural and Spiritual Significance

Taranaki Maunga, a majestic dormant volcano standing 2,518 meters (8,261 feet) tall, is the second-highest peak on New Zealand’s North Island. It has long been revered as an ancestor by the Mori people, serving as a source of physical, cultural, and spiritual sustenance.

However, the mountain’s history has been marked by colonial appropriation. British explorer Captain James Cook renamed it Mount Egmont in 1770, and in 1865, the Crown confiscated vast swathes of Taranaki land, including the mountain itself, as punishment for Mori resistance to colonial rule. For decades, decisions regarding the mountain were made without Mori input, while traditional Indigenous practices were banned in favor of promoting tourism and recreational activities.

Redressing Historical Wrongs

The passage of the bill reflects a broader movement within New Zealand to recognize Mori rights and cultural heritage.Treaty of Waitangisettlements, which have provided billions of dollars in redress, have played a crucial role in restoring Indigenous governance over historically stolen lands. The recognition of Taranaki Maunga follows similar legal personhood designations for other natural landmarks, such as the Whanganui River and Te Urewera, a former national park.

“The mountain has long been an honored ancestor, a source of physical, cultural, and spiritual sustenance, and a final resting place,” he stated inParliament.

Te Pti Mori co-leader and Taranaki descendant Debbie Ngarewa-Packer hailed the bill as a long-overdue victory, declaring, “Today, Taranaki, our maunga, our maunga tupuna, is released from the shacklesthe shackles of injustice, of ignorance, of hate.”

As a legal entity, Taranaki Maunga will now have its health and wellbeing protected under law. The legislation aims to prevent forced sales of the land, restore traditional Mori practices, and facilitate conservation efforts to protect the native wildlife thriving in the region.

Public access to the mountain will remain unchanged, but the official name will revert to Taranaki Maunga, replacing the colonial name Egmont. Additionally, the surrounding national park will also be officially recognized by its Mori name.

This is not the first time that New Zealand has provided personhood to a landmark or a monument. In 2014, the Te Urewera Forest was granted legal personhood under theTe Urewera Act 2014. Formerly a national park, the forest is sacred to the Thoe iwi, who were historically displaced from their land by colonial forces. By granting Te Urewera personhood, the government recognized its intrinsic value beyond being Crown property. Today, it is managed under a governance system that blends Mori traditions with legal protections, ensuring that conservation efforts align with Indigenous cultural values.

Similarly, the Whanganui River became the first river in the world to be granted legal personhood through theTe Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017. The law acknowledges the river as a living entity with rights and legal standing. A unique guardianship system, Te Pou Tupua, was established, with representatives from both the government and Mori to protect the rivers health and well-being.