ISTANBUL

A mountain in New Zealand, which Indigenous people consider an ancestor, has been granted legal personhood through a new law that gives it the same rights and obligations as a human being.

Taranaki Maunga, formerly known as Mount Taranaki, is the latest natural feature in New Zealand to be granted legal personhood, following the Whanganui River (Te Awa Tupua) and Te Urewera National Park, according to Radio New Zealand.

The Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill, which restores rights and protections to Taranaki Maunga, passed through Parliament on Thursday, which marks the 100th settlement between the Crown and the Maori, ending nine years of negotiations.

After European settlers arrived in Taranaki in the 1840s, the Crown began acquiring land, causing concern among the Maori. Land was often purchased from individuals or groups without the consent of the wider community, even though it was traditionally shared by many.

According to the bill, the Crown admits it did not honor the Governor's promises to protect certain lands, including much of Taranaki Maunga, and failed to fulfill commitments to return those lands, local media reported.

The Maori are the Indigenous people of New Zealand, while the Crown refers to the government of New Zealand, historically linked to the British monarchy and its authority.