New Zealand's Mount Taranaki to become a 'legal personality'

Mount Taranaki in New Zealand is to become the third landmark in the country to become a legal personality in its own right.

The dormant volcano, which is thought be New Zealand’s most frequently climbed mountain, follows in the footsteps of the Whanganui River, which earlier this year became a legal personality.

The move comes after the government signed a legal agreement with the eight Maori tribes, or ‘iwi’ of Taranaki, who will share joint guardianship for the mountain.

The status effectively means that if someone abuses or harms it, it is the same as harming the tribe.

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little it's "a great day for the people of Taranaki".

"As a New Plymouth local I grew up under the gaze of the maunga so I’m particularly pleased with the respect accorded to local tangata whenua and the legal protection and personality given to the mountain," he said.

“The Crown and eight iwi have signed a Record of Understanding over collective cultural redress relating to Egmont National Park (Taranaki Maunga).

“The Record of Understanding outlines the broad terms including repealing the Mount Egmont Vesting Act, and giving legal personality and the creation of a joint Crown-Iwi governance entity for the area within the National Park.”

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He said the announcement was a “major step” towards implementing seven individual Treaty settlements signed in Taranaki over the past 20 years.

He also said an Agreement in Principle signed on the same day would pave the way for a Deed of Settlement which will bring Treaty settlements for the Taranaki region to a conclusion.

“Today’s agreements are a major milestone in acknowledging the grievances and hurt from the past as the Taranaki iwi experienced some of the worst examples of Crown behaviour in the 19th Century," he said.

“At the heart of iwi aspirations is the importance of upholding the mana of Ngā Maunga, and recognising the traditional tikanga-Maori relationship between Taranaki iwi and their Maunga.

“The legal personality requirement recognises the mountain’s status in a similar approach taken with Te Urewera and Te Awa Tupua Whanganui River as all Crown-owned land within the National Park will be vested in a legal personality.”