In brief
The Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill was ratified, granting Mount Taranaki the same legal status as a person. This historic agreement aims to compensate local Māori for colonial-era injustices while promoting a shared stewardship of the sacred site.
Mount Taranaki, a revered ancestral mountain for the Māori people, has officially been granted the same legal rights as an individual following extensive negotiations. This historic shift allows Taranaki Maunga to manage its own affairs through representatives from local tribes and the government, thereby addressing past grievances stemming from colonial injustices, including significant land seizures. "This legislation acknowledges the pain inflicted by previous wrongs and paves the way for iwi (tribes) to pursue their future aspirations," remarked Paul Goldsmith, the minister responsible for the negotiations. The New Zealand parliament passed the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill into law on Thursday, solidifying the mountain’s new identity and safeguarding its surrounding lands.The legislation also recognizes the Māori perspective of natural landmarks as living ancestors. "Today, Taranaki is liberated from past injustices and ignorance," expressed Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of the Māori Party, highlighting the cultural significance of the mountain to the eight Taranaki iwi. A gathering of hundreds of Māori participants witnessed the historic law’s passing at parliament.Under the new agreement, Mount Taranaki will revert to its original Māori name, as well as the designation of the adjacent national park. Aisha Campbell, who belongs to a Taranaki iwi, emphasized the profound connection the mountain fosters among her people, reinforcing its importance as a cultural anchor. This settlement is part of a broader effort to reconcile breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, which guarantees indigenous rights to land and resources in New Zealand. The government also formally apologized for the confiscation of Mount Taranaki and over a million acres from the local Māori during the 1860s.Goldsmith acknowledged the extensive harm caused by Treaty violations and reassured the public that access to the mountain will remain unchanged, ensuring that all New Zealanders can continue to explore and appreciate this cherished natural landmark for years to come. Notably, Mount Taranaki joins the ranks of other natural features in New Zealand that have received legal personhood, including the Urewera forest and the Whanganui River in recent years.
