New Zealand grants Taranaki Maunga personhood, reinforcing indigenous rights and setting a precedent for environmental guardianship.
Taranaki Maunga, the second-highest mountain on New Zealand’s North Island, has been granted legal personhood, becoming the third natural feature in the country to receive the same rights, duties, and protections as an individual. This historic decision, unanimously passed by New Zealand’s parliament on January 30, 2025, fulfills a promise made in 2017 and marks a significant step in recognizing the cultural and spiritual significance of Taranaki Maunga to the Taranaki Māori people.
The mountain, along with its surrounding peaks and environment, will now be officially referred to by its Māori name, Taranaki Maunga, shedding its former colonial designation, Mount Egmont. The collective area, Te Kāhui Tupua, will be governed and protected under a shared framework that includes representatives from the Taranaki iwi (tribe) and the Crown.
Taranaki Maunga is one of the most symmetrical volcanic cones in the world and a popular tourist destination. However, its importance extends far beyond its scenic beauty. For the Taranaki Māori, the mountain is regarded as an ancestor, embodying deep cultural and spiritual connections. The granting of Taranaki Maunga personhood is a long-awaited acknowledgment of this relationship and a step toward rectifying historical injustices.
Hundreds of Taranaki iwi members travelled to Wellington to witness the bill’s final reading. The parliament’s public gallery was filled with iwi members, who celebrated the moment with waiata (song), marking a historic achievement for indigenous rights and environmental protection.
The law change is the final step in a 2016 settlement addressing breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document signed in 1840 between Māori chiefs and the British Crown. The settlement included reparations for the Taranaki iwi and paved the way for the recognition of Taranaki Maunga personhood.
Under the new framework, Te Kāhui Tupua’s interests will be represented by a group of appointees from both the iwi and the Crown. This shared governance model ensures that the mountain’s legal rights are protected while honoring Māori perspectives of guardianship and kinship with nature.
Taranaki Maunga follows in the footsteps of Te Urewera, a former national park granted legal personhood in 2014, and the Whanganui River, which received the same status in 2017. These landmark decisions reflect New Zealand’s evolving approach to environmental protection and indigenous rights, embedding Māori values into the legal system.
Recognizing Taranaki Maunga personhood is not just a legal milestone but also a cultural and spiritual one. It acknowledges the deep connection between the Taranaki Māori and their ancestral land, ensuring that the mountain is protected for future generations.
The granting of legal personhood to natural features like Taranaki Maunga represents a shift in how societies view and protect the environment. By recognizing nature’s intrinsic value and Indigenous peoples’ rights, New Zealand is setting a global example for sustainable and inclusive environmental governance.
This approach aligns with Māori concepts of kaitiakitanga, or guardianship, which emphasize the responsibility to care for and protect the environment. Recognizing Taranaki Maunga personhood reinforces these values and provides a framework for addressing environmental challenges in a way that respects Indigenous knowledge and traditions.
While granting Taranaki Maunga personhood is a significant achievement, it also presents challenges. Shared governance requires collaboration and compromise between the iwi and the Crown, and balancing competing interests can be complex. However, the model also offers opportunities for innovative solutions that benefit the environment and local communities.
The success of this approach will depend on the commitment of all parties to uphold the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and work together to protect Taranaki Maunga and its surrounding environment.
New Zealand’s recognition of Taranaki Maunga personhood is a powerful example of how legal systems can evolve to reflect indigenous values and protect the environment. By granting legal rights to natural features, New Zealand challenges traditional notions of property and ownership, paving the way for a more sustainable and equitable future.
This landmark decision honors the Taranaki Māori and sets a precedent for other nations to follow. As the world is challenged with environmental degradation and the need for sustainable solutions, recognizing Taranaki Maunga personhood offers hope and inspiration.
The granting of legal personhood to Taranaki Maunga is a historic moment for New Zealand, marking a significant step in recognizing Indigenous rights and protecting the environment. By embedding Māori values into the legal system, New Zealand sets a global example for sustainable and inclusive governance. The recognition of Taranaki Maunga personhood is a testament to the power of collaboration, cultural respect, and innovative thinking in addressing the challenges of the 21st century.
