In a significant move towards reconciliation, New Zealand's Parliament has passed legislation granting Mount Taranaki the same legal rights as an individual. Known to the local Māori as Taranaki Maunga, this designation allows the mountain to essentially advocate for itself, with governance shared between local tribes and the government. The agreement emerges from decades of negotiations aimed at addressing historical injustices inflicted upon Māori, including extensive land confiscations during the colonial era.
Mount Taranaki Granted Personhood in Landmark Legal Decision
Mount Taranaki Granted Personhood in Landmark Legal Decision
New Zealand establishes a legal framework recognizing the rights of Mount Taranaki as a living entity, emphasizing reconciliation with Māori communities.
At the forefront of the negotiations, Paul Goldsmith, the minister overseeing this legal transition, emphasized the importance of recognizing the harms of the past to foster a promising future for the iwi, or tribes, involved. The passage of the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill formally enshrines the mountain's name and protects its surrounding landscape, reinforcing the unique Māori worldview that views natural landmarks as ancestral beings.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of Te Pāti Māori, expressed the significance of this decision, stating it liberates the mountain from a history of injustice and oppressive narratives. Furthermore, the new law changes the mountain’s designation from Egmont—assigned by British explorer James Cook in the 18th century—back to its Māori name, Taranaki Maunga.
The settlement not only includes an apology from the government for the confiscation of land but also upholds that access to the mountain will remain unchanged, allowing New Zealanders and visitors alike to appreciate Taranaki Maunga for generations. This legislation follows similar legal recognitions granted to the Urewera forest and the Whanganui River, setting a precedent for the rights of natural features in New Zealand. In doing so, the country takes another step toward acknowledging the rights and heritage of its indigenous Māori population.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of Te Pāti Māori, expressed the significance of this decision, stating it liberates the mountain from a history of injustice and oppressive narratives. Furthermore, the new law changes the mountain’s designation from Egmont—assigned by British explorer James Cook in the 18th century—back to its Māori name, Taranaki Maunga.
The settlement not only includes an apology from the government for the confiscation of land but also upholds that access to the mountain will remain unchanged, allowing New Zealanders and visitors alike to appreciate Taranaki Maunga for generations. This legislation follows similar legal recognitions granted to the Urewera forest and the Whanganui River, setting a precedent for the rights of natural features in New Zealand. In doing so, the country takes another step toward acknowledging the rights and heritage of its indigenous Māori population.
