Question

In 2017, the New Zealand parliament granted the Whanganui River legal personhood, thereby recognising the River as “an indivisible and living whole comprising the Whanganui River from the mountains to the sea.” How may this address the tragedy of the ecosystem commons?

Answer 1

Answer :- Maori are the native people of new Zealand that are connected spiritually with the Whanganui river from 700 years. River rapids were dynamited to make easier passage for paddle steamers, gravel were extracted for railways and roadways, water was polluted , fisheries were harmed and used as dumping ground for city wastes . Whanganui river is consider as sacred by Maori people.

In 2017 new Zealand parliament granted the whanganui river legal personhood recognised the river as indivisible ,living whole giving this river rights, power, duties and liabilities of an individual. Two representative one from Maori and another from government is appointed to look after river health. This will prevent further misuse of river for being polluted, divert it.