Author: Kristine Sabillo Publisher: Mongabay Date of Publication: February 20, 2025
New Zealand has taken a groundbreaking step in environmental and Indigenous rights by granting legal personhood to Taranaki Maunga, a sacred mountain on the country’s North Island. This decision marks the first time a mountain in the country has been recognized as a legal entity, underscoring its profound cultural significance to the Māori people and providing a new framework for environmental protection. Passed in January 2025, the law officially renames the mountain by its Māori name, Taranaki Maunga, replacing its colonial designation as Mount Egmont. Additionally, Egmont National Park has been renamed Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki. Under this law, Taranaki Maunga and its surrounding peaks are collectively recognized as a legal person, “Te Kāhui Tupua,” with all the rights, responsibilities, and liabilities of a legal entity.
New Zealand has previously granted legal personhood to a rainforest, a river, and even marine species such as whales and dolphins, reflecting a broader shift in environmental governance that integrates Indigenous worldviews. While similar legal recognition has been granted to Mauna Kea in Hawaii and Mount Zizuma in Colombia as sacred sites with special stewardship protections, legal personhood for Taranaki Maunga goes further, establishing it as an independent entity with legal standing. According to environmental economist Viktoria Kahui from the University of Otago, this distinction sets a new precedent in global conservation law.
For the Māori people of Taranaki, the mountain is not just a landmark but an ancestor, a vital source of cultural, spiritual, and physical sustenance. However, during the 19th century, the British Crown confiscated vast tracts of Māori land in Taranaki, often without consent, leading to decades of displacement and cultural suppression. Many traditional practices were banned, forcing Māori communities to fight for the reclamation of their sacred lands. Kahui describes the legal personhood status as a testament to the resilience and resistance of the Māori people, who have struggled for over a century to have their rights acknowledged and their ancestral connection to the land restored.
The law also establishes a governing body, Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi, to act on behalf of Te Kāhui Tupua. This entity comprises eight members—four appointed by local Māori iwi (tribes) and four chosen by the Minister of Conservation—ensuring that decisions regarding the mountain’s management and preservation are made through a partnership between Indigenous and governmental representatives. This governance structure gives Taranaki Maunga a legal voice, a concept Kahui describes as “unique and transformative” in environmental law.
The implications of this legal recognition extend far beyond New Zealand. With biodiversity loss accelerating due to economic pressures, legal personhood for natural entities provides a powerful tool for conservation. Countries like Colombia have already begun adopting similar models, allowing Indigenous and local communities greater decision-making authority in protecting their ecosystems. By embedding Indigenous wisdom and environmental stewardship into law, this approach challenges traditional legal frameworks that often prioritize economic development over ecological sustainability.
This landmark decision not only restores the Māori connection to Taranaki Maunga but also offers a blueprint for integrating Indigenous rights and environmental conservation in legal systems worldwide. It signals a shift toward recognizing nature as a rights-bearing entity, ensuring that environmental protection is not just a policy choice but a legal obligation.
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