In a groundbreaking move, New Zealand's Mt Taranaki has been conferred the same legal standing as a person following years of negotiations aimed at addressing historical injustices faced by the Māori community.
Taranaki Mountain Granted Legal Personhood in Historic Settlement
Taranaki Mountain Granted Legal Personhood in Historic Settlement
New Zealand's Mt Taranaki recognized as a legal entity, marking a significant step for Māori rights.
The Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill has officially passed into law, marking a historic moment for the local Māori tribes, iwi, and government representatives. The agreement acknowledges the cultural significance of Taranaki, considered sacred by the Māori, and provides a framework for managing the mountain as a self-owned entity. This legislation aims to compensate the local Māori for past injustices, including large-scale land confiscation during colonization.
Paul Goldsmith, New Zealand's Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, emphasized the importance of recognizing past wrongs in order to foster future growth and success for the iwi. "We must acknowledge the hurt that has been caused by past wrongs, so we can look to the future to support iwi to realize their own aspirations and opportunities," Goldsmith stated.
Under the new law, Taranaki Maunga will shed its colonial name of Egmont, originally bestowed by British explorer James Cook, and will instead be referred to by its indigenous Māori name. The legislation also aims to protect the mountain's surroundings and recognizes the Māori perspective that views natural landscapes as living ancestors. Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of the Māori Party, celebrated the decision, stating that Taranaki has now been "released from the shackles of injustice."
Hundreds of Māori community members attended the parliamentary event to witness this monumental change. Among them was iwi member Aisha Campbell, who highlighted the mountain's deep-rooted connection to the local people, stating, "the mountain is what connects us and what binds us together as a people."
This latest settlement follows a series of agreements aimed at providing reparations for violations of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's foundational legal document. The government extended its formal apology for the confiscation of Mt Taranaki and over a million acres of land from the Māori in the 1860s, acknowledging the significant harm caused to families and communities over decades.
Goldsmith reassured the public that access to Taranaki Maunga would remain unchanged, ensuring that all New Zealanders could continue to visit and enjoy the mountain's natural splendor for generations. New Zealand is no stranger to recognizing natural features as legal persons; in 2014, the Urewera native forest became the first entity to gain such status, followed by the Whanganui River in 2017.
Paul Goldsmith, New Zealand's Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, emphasized the importance of recognizing past wrongs in order to foster future growth and success for the iwi. "We must acknowledge the hurt that has been caused by past wrongs, so we can look to the future to support iwi to realize their own aspirations and opportunities," Goldsmith stated.
Under the new law, Taranaki Maunga will shed its colonial name of Egmont, originally bestowed by British explorer James Cook, and will instead be referred to by its indigenous Māori name. The legislation also aims to protect the mountain's surroundings and recognizes the Māori perspective that views natural landscapes as living ancestors. Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of the Māori Party, celebrated the decision, stating that Taranaki has now been "released from the shackles of injustice."
Hundreds of Māori community members attended the parliamentary event to witness this monumental change. Among them was iwi member Aisha Campbell, who highlighted the mountain's deep-rooted connection to the local people, stating, "the mountain is what connects us and what binds us together as a people."
This latest settlement follows a series of agreements aimed at providing reparations for violations of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's foundational legal document. The government extended its formal apology for the confiscation of Mt Taranaki and over a million acres of land from the Māori in the 1860s, acknowledging the significant harm caused to families and communities over decades.
Goldsmith reassured the public that access to Taranaki Maunga would remain unchanged, ensuring that all New Zealanders could continue to visit and enjoy the mountain's natural splendor for generations. New Zealand is no stranger to recognizing natural features as legal persons; in 2014, the Urewera native forest became the first entity to gain such status, followed by the Whanganui River in 2017.
