New Zealand’s Maori Won Personhood for This River

The government of New Zealand worked together with the indigenous Maori to legally confer the Whanganui River the rights of an individual. Read more: www.theatlantic.com/video/ind...
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"The River Is Me" was directed by David Fried (davidfreid.com/). It is part of The Atlantic Selects, an online showcase of short documentaries from independent creators, curated by The Atlantic.
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[@benkatene4667]

im from the river and my life has been lived in the city and it started overseas. to hear that my whanau has been acknowledged by the rest of the world that we are here to protect our awa makes me proud as cheers whanau

[@MartialLoreNZ]

With regard to the Keystone XL Pipeline and the threat to the Missouri River in the USA: If politicians viewed oil and water as resources like the Wanganui River in New Zealand is now viewed, it would be clear that their respective values are not equivalent. Sure, oil is energy. But water... water is life.

[@ncooty]

I admire that kiwis have (over the past couple of decades) tried to find convergence between various cultures and values, and apply law not merely to _objects,_ but also to _meanings._ As they say, "Sweet as." :)

[@CycocelVocalist]

churr bro

[@honawikeepa5813]

I come from Okahukura where Tongariro sits. The name of the Wharepuni, is Okahukura. The man on the poutokomanawa, is Te Wharerangi, son of Tukaiora and Te Maari. Described as the Peaks of the Maunga which includes Ruapehu by his koro Tohiora. We from the spring call the river, Te Awa o Ruatipua. We are Hapuiti, distinct from waka descendants. Manawheua tangata. Who is Te Wharerangi? He saved the life of his enemy Te Rauparaha and was killed for it. I am Te Wharerangi's great great great great grandson direct line. This is our korero from Nga Maunga.

[@1.4142]

Came here for funny laws, left seeing nature and saving the environment in a whole new light.

[@HighPriestessAngelique]

Amazingly proud to see this. Sharing on all platforms. Blessings , 🙏🏻

[@mkt1037]

"E rere kau mai te awa mai I te Kahui maunga ki tangaroa. Ko au te awa ko te awa ko"

[@gabriellaarchive]

This is such a beautiful film. It is so interesting to learn about how the indigenous Maori people feel towards the Whanganui River. It must mean so much to them.

[@Frank-rx8ch]

Ohinemataroa is my awa on my Tuhoe side and Waikato on my father's side. Am thankful to my Tuhoe iwi for the mahi they're doing to clean up the waste in the river

[@pameladaley955]

Beautifully done! Thank you!

[@taurusfilms.5658]

I love this !!! Great work !!!

[@benkatene4667]

thankyou hon chris finlayson your name will be remembered

[@dl1129]

The river gets it's identity stolen and someone takes out a loan in it's name.

[@CycocelVocalist]

Thank you for producing this

[@mary._.yamborghini]

there's a tree somewhere that has personhood too idr where tho

[@MattMajcan]

Spirited Away anyone?

[@jorgeamadosoriaramirez8953]

waiting for the Kiwi dragon to go fuck things up in Australia.

[@CycocelVocalist]

@@jorgeamadosoriaramirez8953 workin on it mate

[@bittersweet340]

In Maoridom the the land has physically and spiritually connect to us as its guardians how Mother Earth (Papatuanuku) provides life and sustenances to our being and existence. Pepeha is a way that Maori introduce themselves we tell the story of how we arrived here, and the story does not start with ourselves!!! But before we journey back in time we should anchor ourselves to this whenua (Land). Mau is hold, therefore our Maunga (mountain) will anchor us here. How did our tupuna (Ancestors) come? They crossed the Moana, (oceans) the vast stretches of Te Moana Nui a Kiwa and followed the Awa (rivers) to come to the final resting places of their Waka (canoes). From the Waka came the Rohe (districts)which sub divided into the Iwi then into the Hapu. Each hapu is affiliated with a Wahi (place) and in each wahi is a Marae. Your Kaumatua (Grandparents) come from the Marae, your Matua (parents) come from them and then there is You. The land becomes much more than a physical entity but is our identity as Maori, and that’s why the westerners will never understand its meaning and symbolism.

[@RuGgEdMaOrI41]

It is not only Whanganui city sewage that was pumped into our River,Awa but The town of Taumarunui which is in the upper reaches of the Whanganui River was also pumping the town sewage into the Awa, Nowadays in Taumarunui it's called grey water,so the Council lets the water companys filter the sewage ,Now the filtered sewage is called grey water, which then is released into the Awa, which has been happening for many years 😡😡

[@user-oh4yd5uh4e]

New zealand hearald news headline 23May, 2022 "Driver dumps sewage in protected stream instead of facility so he can go home" A septic tank driver dumped a load of waste into a stream so that he could go home instead. Kyle Maitai, (A MAORI) also known as Kyle Archer, poured between 4000 and 6000 litres of the waste into the Orini Canal; a watercourse home to indigenous fish and a habitat for indigenous birds near Whakatane. Bay of Plenty Regional Council prosecutor Adam Hopkinson told the court how Maitai was working for Whakatane Brownfreight on May 17, 2021, and had just picked up two loads of septic waste from Ruatoki. However, instead of dropping the waste at an authorised facility in Kawerau, Maitai instead stopped his truck and dumped up to 6000 litres of waste from the truck down a bank and into the Orini canal. The watercourse provided a migratory pathway for indigenous fish species and was also of cultural significance to local iwi who had used it for rituals, karakia, and baptism.😂😂😂😂😂 A maori dumped maori sewage from Ruatoki into a stream used by maori local iwi for their rituals, karakaia and their baptisms.😂😂😂😂😂 No Pakeha involved.

[@1.4142]

13:08 flint moment

[@lucyannanixon7714]

COME ON WANGANUI POLICE..YOU CAN'T KEEP BLAMING IT ON PALMERSTON NORTH POLICE..SOMEONE'S GOT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

[@keitanathompson6830]

ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au

[@john23402]

New Zealand's Maori won personhood for a river. Is it a demotion from spirithood?

[@Neillusion]

riverlutionary

[@RuGgEdMaOrI41]

Ko Au te Awa,ko te Awa ko Au I am the River and the River is me Mai te kahui Maunga From the mystic Mountains Ki Tangaroa to the sea Come and see our Tangata whenua,native guide's for a safe, authentic,fun trip at Owhango Adventure's Te Awa Tipua Protect our River

[@jhair24]

I can’t wait to see this river to transform into a dragon

[@MattMajcan]

damn someone beat me to this comment

[@evawild3837]

'we don't do revolutions; revolutions, generally, don't work' Then how did we get to capitalism, my friend?

[@CloudPixel]

Hmm?

[@mmmk1616]

What does this mean? Many comments are the same as yours.

[@lucyannanixon7714]

TO MY BROTHER'S THIS IS OUR WAR CRY...THIS IS OUR BROTHER'S AND FATHER'S AND OUR BLOOD OUR LIFE'S JOURNEY ❤HOME..I'M COMING MY BROTHER'S

[@lucyannanixon7714]

FROM THE WHOOP WHOOP'S OUT OF THE MIST I CALLED HOME MY ANCESTOR'S UNCLE RUSSELL AND AUNTY GAIL..THIS IS DAD'S FINAL WAKA RIDE HOME

[@jemma_19988]

That river is evil I have stood by it and felt a dark presence. Many maori have died in it, many

[@combogogoi4000]

Hmm😄😄😄

[@lucyannanixon7714]

CHILDREN OF THE MIST THIS IS OUR LEGACY

[@johymers9928]

Why the heck put american music to this lol.

[@JK-gu3tl]

A corporation is a person? Bad. A river is a person? Good.

[@mmmk1616]

Yes!

[@henriettalaimmortelle8523]

actually.both good

[@madonna_rocket]

Corporations and capitalism are the reason things like the Whanganui river and many other places in nature were/are being damaged. It has gotten to the point where a river is needed to have the same recognition as a person to not be totally destroyed. I'm not sure if corporations deserve personhood with things like this happening.

[@valdee88]

☯️☯️☯️☯️

[@henriblakeley5185]

Great to see international coverage of this, however, I don't see how this has to be merged with issues from the USA. If American news agencies wish to make documentaries on foreign political and social issues, then do that. Don't try to cram in unrelated and distracting ideas, or put in few shots of Trump, for views. Kia Ora.

[@jujeyu06]

hmm?

[@AtCheruti]

Another step in the descent into madness. A river is a river. It is not a person. It cannot be a person because it is a river. It is not even a ling thing.

[@occiputslave2145]

and now it has killed - does it have the same responsibility as a person? Maori is not indigenous, they came by boat just like everyone else

[@bodybalanceU2]

everybody came by boat at one stage or another - that is how they managed to cross the seas - did you not learn history

[@LOLHAXGUN]

whats with this Hmm? spam

[@mmmk1616]

I want to know too!

[@roseadams8003]

Me me me. Mine mine mine. Greed all round

[@nomadiccouplekerala]

Rivar entity

[@AtomizerX]

Disappointed. Came here expecting River Phoenix. Very misleading title, Atlantic! Also apparently River Phoenix has been dead for a quarter century; who knew?!? :D

[@DowntownsUptown]

:(

[@BombTheWhiteHouse]

Hmm?

[@josemaria1035]

Hmm?

[@mezutzizu]

Hmm?

[@CrimeAroundtheWorld]

Hmm?