For many indigenous peoples around the planet, every aspect of the natural world plays a part in their beliefs and culture. That can be a problem when the modern world, which is always looking for new ways to monetize nature, butts heads with long-standing beliefs of the indigenous population. Fortunately, some countries are doing a better job of others at recognizing these issues and actually doing something positive about it.
Taranaki Maunga, known by New Zealand's non-Maori population as Mount Taranaki, has been recognized by the country's government as a legal person. This confers all the rights and responsibilities that comes with such a designation on the mountain. Keep in mind that this isn't some weird ploy on the part of the government to get an exceptionally large rock to pay taxes. There is a deeper meaning to this move, one that is incredibly important to the Maori.
The mountain is considered to be an honored ancestor by the Maori people. But during the colonization era, the Taranaki was taken and renamed. Returning the mountain to its people and giving it this designation is part of a larger ongoing strategy of redressing the damage done to the Maori during that time. The New Zealand government has offered similar protections and designations to other geographical features important to the indigenous people.
The official legal persona of the mountain is Te Kahui Tupua, and will be represented by a council of Maori people. Being that Taranaki is also a popular destination with visitors, this could also have an interesting impact on tourism. Having such a designation that demonstrates its cultural and historical significance will only make the Taranaki intriguing to visitors to New Zealand. That same designation also means that tourist need to be more respectful to the mountain than ever.