In New Zealand, Mount Taranaki has been officially recognized as an individual

In New Zealand, the local government has officially granted the second highest mountain in the country, Taranaki, the status of an individual. This was reported by The Guardian newspaper on January 30.

It is noted that the mountain was named Te Kāhui Tupua. It became the third natural object, which was given the rights and status of personality.

For the indigenous Maori people, the mountain is considered an important object and is considered the ancestor of the population. A group of people from the Māori tribes and the national government will now represent the interests of the natural structure. Parliament was supposed to give Taranaki legal rights back in 2017. However, only now the law was passed by unanimous decision.

In addition, it is specified that the law adopted the day before contains a clause on reparations for the damage that was inflicted on the indigenous people during the events of the colonization of New Zealand. Now the recognition of Taranaki as a person confirms that the mountain was taken from the Maori people of the region in 1856.

As such, the law has set rules that visitors to the structure must treat the mountain with respect.

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Earlier, on January 29, the United States put a bill before Congress for a vote that would allow a portrait of American President Donald Trump to be added to Mount Rushmore.