In New Zealand the river is recognized as a legal entity

Now she has rights and responsibilities.

One of the three largest rivers in Whanganui in New Zealand is recognized as a legal entity. In accordance with the law, the reservoir has its own rights and responsibilities. It will be possible to speak on behalf of the river in legal proceedings and draw up official appeals. This was reported by the New Zealand Herald.

For 160 years, the recognition of the river as a living being has been sought by members of the Maori tribe, who consider Whanganui their ancestor and live near it. In their language they say about the river “Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au”, which translates as “I am the river and the river is me.”

The trial in this case was the longest trial in New Zealand history. Now the government will create a special fund for which it will allocate $30 million to ensure the safety and well-being of the reservoir. This will be overseen by two trustees of the river: the tribe and the country's authorities.

According to Minister Chris Finlayson, who participated in the negotiations, recognizing a river as a legal entity is no more strange than creating joint-stock companies or family trusts. He added that the well-being of the Maori tribe directly depends on the well-being of the river, which is why they were recognized as one.