Mountain becomes latest natural feature to be granted personhood by law

Mount Taranaki, now known as Taranaki Maunga, has been granted personhood (Dita Alangkara/AP)

A mountain in New Zealand considered an ancestor by indigenous people was recognised as a legal person on Thursday after a law granted it all the rights and responsibilities of a human being.

Mount Taranaki – now known as Taranaki Maunga, its Maori name – is the latest natural feature to be granted personhood in New Zealand, which has ruled that a river and a stretch of sacred land are people before.