--- title: New Zealand: Whanganui River Given Legal Rights description: In what's believed to be a world first, New Zealand's government has granted a river the same rights as a living person canonical: https://time.com/4703251/new-zealand-whanganui-river-wanganui-rights/ author: Kevin Lui article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-03-16T06:10:06.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:44:50.130Z og:title: New Zealand Recognizes Whanganui River as 'Living Person' og:description: The river will be given the legal rights of a person in a world first og:url: https://time.com/4703251/new-zealand-whanganui-river-wanganui-rights/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf07538eaa8c7354e/6988be9c8fd2eef4c135629e/img_5144.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Whanganui River og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: New Zealand Recognizes Whanganui River as 'Living Person' twitter:description: The river will be given the legal rights of a person in a world first twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf07538eaa8c7354e/6988be9c8fd2eef4c135629e/img_5144.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # New Zealand's Whanganui River Has Been Granted the Same Legal Rights as a Person ## Video: Apparently New Zealand Might Be Part of a Lost Underwater Continent [Watch (HLS stream): Apparently New Zealand Might Be Part of a Lost Underwater Continent](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/tbhwm7we.m3u8) (0:36)  _Published 2017-02-17. A group of geologists believes New Zealand and several surrounding islands, including New Caledonia, should be reclassified as part of an eighth continent called Zealandia_ by [Kevin Lui](https://time.com/author/kevin-lui/) ## Kevin Lui Mar 16, 2017 6:10 AM UTC  New Zealand's Whanganui River, seen through morning mist from the Aramoana Viewpoint, on May 30, 2016 New Zealand's Whanganui River, seen through morning mist from the Aramoana Viewpoint, on May 30, 2016Liam Fitzpatrick by [Kevin Lui](https://time.com/author/kevin-lui/) ## Kevin Lui Mar 16, 2017 6:10 AM UTC In what’s believed to be a world first, New Zealand’s government has granted a river the same rights as a living person. The Whanganui River, considered part of the living landscape by the indigenous Whanganui Iwi people associated with it, has been granted legal personhood under a parliamentary bill, [reports](http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/03/whanganui-river-the-first-in-the-world-to-be-given-legal-status-as-a-person.html) local news service Newshub. Two representatives from the local indigenous community — one appointed by the government, another elected by the community — will be entrusted with acting in the river’s interests. The Whanganui Iwi have fought for this day for over 160 years, an indigenous MP [told](http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/326689/whanganui-river-to-gain-legal-personhood) Radio New Zealand. “From a Whanganui viewpoint the wellbeing of the river is directly linked to the well-being of the people,” said Adtian Rurawhe, “and so it is really important that’s recognized as its own identity” “I know some people will say it’s pretty strange to give a natural resource a legal personality,” Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson said, according to Newshub. “But it’s no stranger than family trusts, or companies, or incorporated societies.” In the precolonial era, the Whanganui River was a vital communication route for Maori people and it navigability attracted large-scale settlement in the Whanganui River valley. When colonists arrived, it was the most densely populated part of what is today called the North Island. 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