Humans have a multitude of privileges because we simply acknowledge that, no matter who we are or where we’re from, we are people. In ideal situations, the law, our peers, and our representation in government keep us safe.

New Zealand is among the many countries that once failed to acknowledge the personhood of the indigenous natives who resided there before being conquered by imperial powers.

In a remarkable move, New Zealand took a major step in atoning for their past crimes against the native Māori people by granting full legal personhood to Mount Taranaki.

The Mountain’s History

The Māori people have long held the mountain of Taranaki Maunga sacred to their culture.

The dormant volcano is 2,518 meters (8,261 feet) tall, the second-highest on New Zealand's North Island. For many years, it has been considered an ancestor, a final resting place, and a symbol of endurance. The environment around it is stunning and pristine. 

However, in the 18th century, Mt. Taranaki and the territory around it were seized by the New Zealand government. The people were enslaved and forced to sell their land to the government. The rising tension between the tribes and colonists led to a war that devastated the Māori, and the New Zealanders seized vast swathes of land.

Mt. Taranaki was one of many areas confiscated by imperial powers, and for over a century, it remained a source of profit and tourism for the government.

Present Personhood

In recent years, imperial powers have been scrutinized for the horrors of their past. In response, New Zealand has issued official apologies to the Natives and begun restoring previously conquered territory to the tribe.

One strategy they have been using is to grant these territories personhood and allow them full protection under the law, as with Mt. Taranaki. In 2014, they granted personhood to Te Urewera, a North Island forest that is now in the custody of the Tūhoe tribe.

While public access will not be revoked, granting the mountain personhood will ensure the continuation of conservation efforts and protect the local wildlife. However, as major a step in the right direction as this was, there is still much to be done to atone for the sins of the past and restore the Native tribes.

There are efforts underway to undermine new treaties and cut corners on Native rights. Fortunately, they have been met with widespread protests, and the claim that Natives like the Māori have on the land is at last being acknowledged and codified into law.

Sources: CNN, NPR, Guardian, Taranakimounga.org