Recognition of Mount Taranaki as a Legal Person
Mount Taranaki, a mountain in New Zealand considered an ancestor by Indigenous people, was recognized as a legal person granting it all the rights and responsibilities of a human being. The law acknowledges the mountain's theft from the Māori of the Taranaki region and fulfills an agreement of redress from the country's government to Indigenous people for harms perpetrated against the land since colonization.
Key Points
- Mount Taranaki, now known as Taranaki Maunga, granted legal personhood in New Zealand
- Acknowledges historical injustices against Māori and aims to uphold mountain's health and wellbeing
- Part of a wider movement in New Zealand to recognize natural features as legal persons
Pros
- Acknowledges and respects Indigenous beliefs and rights
- Fulfills redress agreement for historical injustices
Cons
- Potential complications in applying legal personhood to natural features