New Zealand river granted same legal rights as human being: after 140 years of negotiation

[Equinox Moon]

Source: The Guardian

In a world-first a New Zealand river has been granted the same legal rights as a human being.

The local Māori tribe of Whanganui in the north island has fought for the recognition of their river – the third-largest in New Zealand – as an ancestor for 140 years.

On Wednesday, hundreds of tribal representatives wept with joy when their bid to have their kin awarded legal status as a living entity was passed into law.
“We have fought to find an approximation in law so that all others can understand that from our perspective treating the river as a living entity is the correct way to approach it, as in indivisible whole, instead of the traditional model for the last 100 years of treating it from a perspective of ownership and management.”

The new status of the river means if someone abused or harmed it the law now sees no differentiation between harming the tribe or harming the river because they are one and the same.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/16/new-zealand-river-granted-same-legal-rights-as-human-being

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Way to go Māori & New Zealand!!!
The River and the Tribe are one and the same!

[Equinox Moon]

1. Wow.

Financial redress of $80m is included in the settlement, as well as an additional $1m contribution towards establishing the legal framework for the river.

[packman]

2. About time we come to realize how close our relationship is to nature

And treat the land, the air and the waters of this planet with respect

[Sunlei]

3. The First people really 'get it' that humanity IS part of our earth.

[Equinox Moon]

4. Agreed.

I believe the Native Peoples of this Earth, have the potential to save us all.

[canetoad]

5. Well done NZ.

The Kiwis get a lot of stuff right.

I spent considerable time in central Queensland in the 80s. An aboriginal park ranger explained his people's view of the earth's resources thus:

"We could cut down a big eucalypt and make six or eight bark canoes from it. Or we could leave the tree there and take one canoe from it every year for twenty or more years."

[Equinox Moon]

6. Very cool - share. Thanks.

I feel in love with New Zealand when they became a nucular-free-zone country. I was very impressed that they threw out all their laws and re-wrote them to be in harmony with nature.

NZ has protected areas so vast, no human has ever stepped foot on much of it.

I would love to live in NZ.

[Bradical79]

7. Kind of funny from an outside perspective...

But it's defenitely a good thing. Mandates keeping the rivir free from abuse and industrial exploitation.

[Equinox Moon]

8. It does require a different lens of living and being on earth.