New Zealand Grants Legal Personhood to Mount Taranaki

New Zealand's parliament has officially granted Mount Taranaki, now known as Taranaki Maunga, legal personhood, recognizing its cultural and spiritual significance to the Māori as a sacred ancestor. The Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill, passed recently, transfers guardianship from the government to a coalition of local Māori tribes (iwi), allowing them to co-manage the mountain alongside government representatives. This landmark decision, which includes a formal apology for historical injustices stemming from the 1860s confiscation of the mountain and surrounding land, marks a significant step in acknowledging the Māori relationship with their ancestral lands. The new legal status means Taranaki Maunga will effectively own itself, reflecting a broader trend in New Zealand to grant rights to natural entities. Celebrations at parliament included traditional Māori songs, highlighting the community's deep connection to the mountain. This legal recognition follows similar precedents in New Zealand, such as the Te Urewera forest and Whanganui River, and may inspire similar movements globally.