The king of the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand, Tuheitia Potatau Te Ferofero VII, asked to grant whales the same legal rights as people and recognize the presence of personality in mammals to protect this species, reports the Voxy portal on March 28 .
The publication reports that the king signed a historic declaration drafted by the leaders of the Polynesian communities. It has been called a “declaration of the sea” and includes a comprehensive plan to protect whales, including a call for legal personhood for whales.
“The sound of our ancestor’s song has faded and her habitat is threatened, so we must act now. The Declaration of the Sea is a halo of protection for our treasure, our ancestors: the whales.”stated the Maori king at the event.
According to the signatories of the declaration, whales, as well as representatives of the indigenous Maori people, possess the personality attributes: “mana” (spiritual essence) and “mauri” (life force). Thus, the declaration demands the recognition of whales “legal persons with inalienable rights”and not only part of the natural resources.
Whale rights include freedom of movement, behavior, expression of their unique culture and the right to thrive in a healthy environment and restore their population.
To implement this task in practice, the authors of the declaration outlined a multi-step plan: creating marine protected areas, uniting “indigenous wisdom” with science to achieve a more holistic approach to protecting whales.
“This journey cannot be done alone. The Declaration extends a hand of cooperation to all Polynesian countries and all who share the love of… the vast Pacific Ocean. Empowering coastal communities, coastal protectors and sharing knowledge and resources is essential.”the document says.
Recall that New Zealand has previously passed laws granting legal status to natural objects, such as rivers and mountains. Therefore, the Mount Taranaki volcano and the Whanganui River on the North Island of New Zealand are considered the ancestors of New Zealanders and have spiritual significance for them. Therefore, in 2017 they were granted individual status. This status has been used to cancel several infrastructure projects and force the government to carry out mandatory consultations with local communities.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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