Taranaki Maunga, the Maori name for Mount Taranaki, is now recognized as a legal person, following the passing of new legislation by New Zealand's Parliament on February 1, 2025. This monumental development marks the latest demonstration of the country’s commitment to acknowledging and rectifying historical injustices faced by its Indigenous peoples, the Māori. The pristine, snow-capped dormant volcano stands as the second highest mountain on New Zealand's North Island, reaching 2,518 meters (8,261 feet) above sea level.
With this new law, Taranaki Maunga has been afforded the rights, powers, duties, responsibilities, and liabilities similar to those of human beings, establishing it as Te Kāhui Tupua. This legal entity acknowledges not just the mountain itself but also its surrounding peaks and the entire ecosystem surrounding it, encompassing both its physical and metaphysical elements.
Paul Goldsmith, the lawmaker responsible for the settlements between the government and Māori tribes, spoke passionately about the mountain’s significance. He stated, “The mountain has long been an honored ancestor, a source of physical, cultural, and spiritual sustenance and a final resting place.” His words highlight the deep-rooted connection the Māori have with Taranaki and serve as recognition of the appropriation of the mountain by colonizers throughout history.
This legal recognition is deeply tied to events of the past. When British explorer Captain James Cook first spotted the peak from his ship, he named it Mount Egmont—a name many Māori view as emblematic of colonial oppression. The Treaty of Waitangi, signed between Māori tribes and British representatives in 1840, promised to preserve Māori rights over their lands and resources, but the discrepancies between the English and Māori versions of the treaty led to numerous breaches by the Crown.
“Traditional Māori practices associated with the mountain were banned, which aligned with the systematic suppression of Māori culture,” Goldsmith added during the parliamentary session. He indicated the government forcibly confiscated large tracts of Taranaki land after Māori groups rebelled against colonial rule, significantly affecting the people who hold the mountain sacred.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of the political party Te Pāti Māori and descendant of the Taranaki tribes, expressed her relief and enthusiasm over this significant legal change. “Today, Taranaki, our maunga, our maunga tupuna, is released from the shackles, the shackles of injustice, of ignorance, of hate,” she affirmed. This encapsulates the sentiment among Māori surrounding their historic and cultural ties to Taranaki and the breath of hope this legal recognition brings.
The personhood granted to the mountain not only signifies its rights but also establishes stringent measures to uphold its health and wellbeing. It is intended to prevent forced sales, encourage the restoration of traditional uses, and support conservation initiatives protecting the indigenous species within the area—while ensuring public access remains.
New Zealand has already set precedents for natural features being granted personhood. It was the first nation to recognize natural entities with such legal standings when it granted personhood to Te Urewera, a significant native forest, back in 2014, later following suit with the Whanganui River. Each of these cases exemplifies the country’s progressive stance toward respect for Māori perspectives and natural heritage.
The bill recognizing Taranaki Maunga's legal personhood was passed unanimously, reflecting broad support across Parliament’s 123 lawmakers. The moment was celebrated with traditional Māori songs from community members who made the pilgrimage from Taranaki to Wellington to witness the momentous occasion. This historic vote provided not just formal recognition but served as poignant affirmation of Māori cultural heritage at a time when race relations continue to evolve within New Zealand.
Despite the significant victory, underlying tensions around treaty interpretations and Māori rights persist, exemplified by the recent protests against attempts to redefine some terms of the Treaty of Waitangi. Critics of the proposed amendments to the treaty feel they might strip Māori of their legal rights, showcasing the delicate balance of progress and resistance faced by Indigenous peoples today.
This historic development heralds another milestone toward reconciliation between the New Zealand government and the Indigenous Māori tribes. Taranaki Maunga’s elevation to legal personhood stands as not just recognition of its physical form but as acknowledgment of the cultural, historical and ancestral significance it holds for the Māori people and the broader New Zealand society.