In a landmark agreement between government and Indigenous groups, New Zealand’s third-longest river system has been granted personhood, giving it the same legal rights as a person. The local Maori iwi have battled since 1873 for legal protection of the Whanganui River, on which they depend. Now the river and all of its tributaries has become a legal entity, similar to the status that corporations possess. Two guardians – one from the government and one from the iwi – will be given the role of protecting the river and will serve as legal custodians, similar to legal guardians who represent ...
There are approximately 157 more words in this article.
To read the rest of this article, please buy this issue, or join the Resurgence Trust. As a member you will receive access to the complete archive of magazines from May 1966.
If you are already a member, please Sign in
