February 6, 2025 New Zealand declares a mountain a legal person – here’s why it matters
New Zealand has granted Mount Taranaki legal personhood, recognizing its sacred status and giving it rights similar to a citizen. This decision follows a long fight by the Indigenous Māori people and marks another step in acknowledging nature’s legal standing.
A mountain in New Zealand is now legally recognized as a person. A long-standing dispute—rooted in centuries of mythological heartbreak—has resulted in a formal decision. Now, following years of advocacy, the country’s Indigenous Māori population has successfully argued that Mount Taranaki should be granted certain rights.
What does legal personhood mean for the mountain?
The dormant volcano, standing over 2,500 meters tall with its snow-capped peaks, has been designated a legal entity, giving it formal rights and responsibilities akin to other New Zealand citizens. The decision was made by the New Zealand Parliament, according to the Associated Press.
The new law recognizes the mountain as sacred and allows for legal action where Māori groups can hold the government accountable for past colonial injustices, with the land itself as the plaintiff.
“Mount Taranaki has long been a revered ancestor, a source of physical, cultural, and spiritual nourishment, and a place of final rest,” said Paul Goldsmith, a member of Parliament who led negotiations between Māori leaders and the government.
The legal entity created for the mountain will act as its “face and voice” and will be represented by a council of four members from local Māori groups and four government-appointed representatives.
A growing movement for nature’s rights
Taranaki is one of several major volcanoes on New Zealand’s North Island that, in Māori legends, were once warriors battling for the favor of the beautiful Mount Pihanga. Tongariro emerged victorious, forcing the other mountains to retreat—Taranaki to the west, where it now stands in eternal sorrow.
When British explorer James Cook first saw the volcano, he named it Mount Egmont. That remained its official name until 2020 when authorities reinstated its Māori name, Taranaki Maunga.
Mount Taranaki joins Te Urewera Forest and the Whanganui River, both of which have also been granted legal personhood. New Zealand was the first country in the world to recognize parts of nature as legal entities, beginning in 2014 when Te Urewera was placed under the guardianship of a Māori group.
About Rights of Nature
The Rights of Nature movement grants legal personhood to natural entities like rivers, forests, and mountains, recognizing their right to exist and thrive. Rooted in Indigenous worldviews, it allows ecosystems to be represented in court, promoting environmental protection and accountability.
Learn more at www.rightsofnature.org.
Photo: Unsplash
