River granted ‘person status’ and legal rights: ‘It’s strange to give a natural resource a personality’

A RIVER has become the first in the world to be granted ‘human status’ which includes the same legal rights as a person.

Aerial view of the Whanganui River in New Zealand.

A RIVER in New Zealand has become the first in the world to be granted the same legal rights as a person.

Wellington in New Zealand passed a bill on Wednesday for the Whanganui River, which flows from the central North Island to the sea, to be recognised as a person when it comes to the law in the same way a company is.

The sacred river will be granted all the corresponding rights, duties and liabilities of a legal person after a 170-year battle led by a local Maori tribe known as the Iwi.

It will be represented by one member of the Maori community and a government official appointed by the Crown. The recognition allows the river to be represented in court proceedings.

The Whanganui, a 145km long river, is the country’s third-longest river is recognised as an indivisible and living whole from the mountains to the sea.

New Zealand cabinet minister Christopher Finlayson said “some people will say it’s pretty strange to give a natural resource a legal personality”.

“But it’s no stranger than family trusts, companies or incorporated societies,” he said.

“It responds to the view of the Iwi of the Whanganui River which has long recognised Te Awa Tupua through its traditions, customs and practise.”

The move marks the first time in the world that a river has been given a legal identity.

The Iwi had long recognised Te Awa Tupua — the river’s name in Maori — in their traditions and customs, Mr Finlayson said.

“Local tribes had fought for recognition of their relationship with the Whanganui River since the 1870s,” he said.

“Today brings the longest running litigation in New Zealand’s history to an end.”

Labour’s Te Tai Hauauru MP Adrian Rurawhe said that in Whanganui, the wellbeing of the river was directly linked to the wellbeing of the people, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Therefore, the concept of treating a river as a person was not unusual for Maori. It was captured in the well-known Maori saying, “I am the river and the river is me”.

Negotiations between New Zealand’s government and Whanganui Iwi formally began in 2009.

The Whanganui River Deed of Settlement was signed in 2014 and legislation was introduced in 2016.

Iwi marked the passing of the legislation with a waiata in the House.

— With AAP

Originally published as River granted ‘person status’ and legal rights: ‘It’s strange to give a natural resource a personality’