WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A monumental shift has occurred within New Zealand's legal framework, as Mount Taranaki, known as Taranaki Maunga to Indigenous Māori, has been granted the legal status of a person. This landmark decision, confirmed by law on January 30, 2025, acknowledges the mountain’s cultural and ancestral significance to the Māori, establishing it as a living entity under the name Te Kāhui Tupua.
Standing tall at 2,518 meters (8,261 feet), this dormant volcano is not only the second highest point on New Zealand's North Island but also a treasured site for locals and tourists interested in hiking, skiing, and experiencing its breathtaking landscapes. The newly enacted law recognizes the historical injustices faced by the Māori people, marked by the appropriation of their ancestral lands during British colonization.
Paul Goldsmith, the Member of Parliament who spearheaded the movement to formalize the mountain's legal identity, elaborated on the deep-rooted respect the land has commanded. "The mountain has long been an honored ancestor, a source of physical, cultural and spirit sustenance and a final resting place," he stated during the parliamentary debate.
This new legal recognition of Taranaki Maunga fulfills commitments made by the New Zealand government to rectify past harms, acknowledging the theft of land from the Māori of the Taranaki region. The legal processes reaffirm the mountain's intrinsic value, outlining rights and responsibilities akin to those of human beings.
The bill stipulates the formation of an entity tasked with advocating on behalf of Taranaki. The governing body will comprise four representatives from local Māori iwi, or tribes, and four appointed by the Conservation Minister. This structure is intended to safeguard Māori voices, ensuring their perspectives are integral to the future management of Taranaki.
Mount Taranaki's legal personhood arrives at a time of increasing recognition for Māori culture and rights within New Zealand, thanks to efforts dating back to the advocacy movements of the 1970s and 1980s. Despite the historical injustices, such as the confiscation of the mountain's surrounding lands post the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, hope for reconciliation continues. "Today, Taranaki, our maunga, our maunga tupuna, is released from the shackles, the shackles of injustice, of ignorance, of hate," said Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of Te Pāti Māori and descendant of Taranaki tribes.
This legal framework opens pathways for conservation and environmental health, intended to restore the mountain’s traditional uses and protect its native wildlife. The rights granted to Taranaki Maunga will also work to prevent unwanted sales of lands and reinforce traditional practices long neglected during colonization.
New Zealand has been at the forefront of recognizing the importance of natural features as legal entities, with Taranaki Maunga becoming the third landmark to receive such status. Previously, Te Urewera forest gained legal personhood status in 2014, followed by the Whanganui River in 2017. These decisions represent a groundbreaking paradigm shift reflecting the country's commitment to address historical grievances and establish equitable management of natural resources.
The unanimous passage of the bill through Parliament, which was met with celebratory waiata (Māori songs) from the public gallery, signifies extraordinary support across the political spectrum. With 123 lawmakers endorsing the law, New Zealand has taken significant strides toward mending its relationship with Indigenous peoples, particularly at this sensitive junction of cultural reckoning.
This harmony within the Legislative Assembly hints at the potential for future agricultural and environmental reforms, fostering acknowledgment of Māori rights amid contemporary political discussions. Notably, the recent unrest surrounding proposed legislative changes to the Treaty of Waitangi underlines the urgent need for such reforms.
The recognition of Taranaki Maunga as Te Kāhui Tupua not only celebrates the majesty of the mountain itself but also serves as a reminder of the resilience of the Māori people. New Zealand has set its own course toward reconciliation, with the natural world now persisting alongside human stakeholders, both protected under the sanctity of law.