Te Urewera Act 2014, Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017, Te Anga Pūtakerongo – Record of Understanding 2017
In 2014, New Zealand became the first country in the world to grant legal personality to a natural feature, Te Urewera – the mountainous region bordering Hawkes Bay and the Bay of Plenty. This means Te Urewera has the same legal status as an individual person.
In 2017, legal personality was also granted to Whanganui Awa, the Whanganui river.
Later in 2017, the government (“the Crown”) and Taranaki iwi signed a Record of Understanding to state their shared intention that legal personality will be granted to Taranaki Maunga (Mount Taranaki) as well.
These natural features were granted legal personality following lengthy Treaty of Waitangi negotiations between the government and the different iwi that have ancestral connections with them. Te Urewera, Whanganui Awa and Taranaki Maunga are considered to be ancestors and taonga, as well as sources of food, shelter and spiritual connection for their people.