Whanganui River

About

Flowing through the heart of New Zealand's North Island, it became the first river in the world to be recognised as a legal person in 2017, granting it the ability to sue for any abuse or threat to its waters. Its legal status represents its special and spiritual importance for Māori, the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand.

There are many stories/legends about the formation of the river. One comes from the Mount Taranaki legend, where the great mountains Tongariro and Taranaki battled over the love of the beautiful Mt Pihanga. Tongiriro eventually won the battle and Taranaki, wild with grief and anger, ripped himself from the ground and tore a path through the country. Soon after the battle, a stream of clear water sprang from Tongariro, which filled and healed the wound Taranaki had made. This new river became known as the Whanganui River.