New Zealand’s North Island has become home to a third natural feature with legal personhood, following Te Urewera and the Whanganui River. Taranaki Mounga, or Taranaki Mountain, has been granted this status through a unanimous parliamentary vote.
The mountain, located on New Zealand’s west coast, is considered one of the most symmetrical volcanic cones in the world. It holds significant cultural importance for local iwi (tribes), who consider it an ancestor and have long campaigned for its recognition.
The law change marks the final step of a 2016 settlement that saw Taranaki iwi secure reparations over breaches of duty under the Treaty of Waitangi. This treaty, signed in 1840, acknowledged the confiscation of 1.2 million acres of land from Taranaki iwi and had a devastating impact on their way of life.
The mountain will now be referred to as Te Kāhui Tupua, with its original Māori name reinstated for the surrounding peaks and natural features. A collection of appointees from iwi and the crown will represent the area’s interests.
Chief negotiator Jamie Tuuta welcomed the law change, calling it a “significant step” in history that acknowledges the mountain’s cultural significance to Taranaki iwi. Guidelines will be set for visitors to treat the mountain with respect, but Tuuta hopes people will self-regulate their activities.
The bill passed unopposed, with representatives from each party acknowledging the harm caused by colonial actions and expressing support for the reinstallation of the Māori name. This historic victory marks a new beginning in the relationship between the crown and Taranaki iwi.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/taranaki-mounga-new-zealands-second-highest-mountain-granted-same-legal-rights-as-a-person