A Mountain Recognized as a Legal Person in New Zealand
In a historic move, Mount Taranaki, a mountain in New Zealand, has been recognized as a legal person. This means that the mountain now has all the rights and responsibilities of a human being. This decision acknowledges the mountain's significance to the Indigenous Māori people, who consider it an ancestor.
The legal recognition of Mount Taranaki fulfills an agreement of redress from the New Zealand government to the Māori people for the harms perpetrated against the land since colonization. The mountain was stolen from the Māori of the Taranaki region after New Zealand was colonized.
The law passed by the New Zealand Parliament gives Taranaki Maunga, the mountain's Māori name, all the rights, powers, duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of a person. Its legal personality is represented by Te Kāhui Tupua, which includes the mountain and its surrounding peaks and land.
A newly created entity will be responsible for representing the mountain. This entity will have four members from local Māori iwi, or tribes, and four members appointed by the country's Conservation Minister.
The legal rights granted to the mountain are intended to uphold its health and wellbeing. They will be used to stop forced sales, restore its traditional uses, and allow conservation work to protect the native wildlife that flourishes there. Public access to the mountain will remain.
This decision by the New Zealand government is a significant step towards recognizing the rights of nature. It is hoped that this will inspire other countries to take similar steps to protect their natural heritage.
5 Comments
KittyKat
I love that a newly formed entity will represent the mountain. This ensures diverse community involvement in its governance and protection.
BuggaBoom
This seems like an expensive political stunt to me. It's a waste of taxpayer money that could be used for something more important, like tackling climate change.
KittyKat
It's fantastic to see the indigenous Māori people finally receiving acknowledgement of their connection to the land. This is a step towards decolonization and environmental justice.
Loubianka
This action sets a positive precedent for addressing the ongoing climate crisis and motivates proactive, protective solutions for endangered natural heritage sites.
Pupsik
Are we going to start worshipping the mountain now? This feels like an invitation to paganism and nature worship.