Indigenous Peoples Inspiring Sustainable Development Implementing UNDRIP through International Law and Covenants
Book contents
- Indigenous Peoples Inspiring Sustainable Development
- Treaty Implementation For Sustainable Development
- Indigenous Peoples Inspiring Sustainable Development
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Tables
- Notes on Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations and Acronyms
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Foundations of International Law for Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Development
- Part III Indigenous Treaty Law Innovations on Sustainable Development
- Part IV Indigenous Treaty Implementation for Sustainable Development in Key Countries
- 9 Treaty Rights throughout History in Canada
- 10 Treaty Rights to Economic Sovereignty in the United States
- 11 Legal Standing for Nature in New Zealand
- 12 Indigenous Treaties for Sustainable Development in the Andes
- 13 Rights of Indigenous Peoples to Advance SDGs in Bangladesh and Mexico
- Part V Conclusions and Lessons for Treaty Reform
- Table of Cases and Court Decisions
- Table of Domestic Acts and Regulations
- Table of Multilateral and Indigenous Treaties and Declarations
- Table of Recommended Resources
11 - Legal Standing for Nature in New Zealand
from Part IV - Indigenous Treaty Implementation for Sustainable Development in Key Countries
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 January 2026
Book contents
- Indigenous Peoples Inspiring Sustainable Development
- Treaty Implementation For Sustainable Development
- Indigenous Peoples Inspiring Sustainable Development
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Tables
- Notes on Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations and Acronyms
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Foundations of International Law for Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Development
- Part III Indigenous Treaty Law Innovations on Sustainable Development
- Part IV Indigenous Treaty Implementation for Sustainable Development in Key Countries
- 9 Treaty Rights throughout History in Canada
- 10 Treaty Rights to Economic Sovereignty in the United States
- 11 Legal Standing for Nature in New Zealand
- 12 Indigenous Treaties for Sustainable Development in the Andes
- 13 Rights of Indigenous Peoples to Advance SDGs in Bangladesh and Mexico
- Part V Conclusions and Lessons for Treaty Reform
- Table of Cases and Court Decisions
- Table of Domestic Acts and Regulations
- Table of Multilateral and Indigenous Treaties and Declarations
- Table of Recommended Resources
Summary
This chapter presents a case study on New Zealand, examining the paradigm of giving nature legal standing within the country’s judicial and legislative framework. It begins with an introduction that sets the stage for the discussion. This chapter then explores the Māori philosophy of a relationship with nature, emphasizing the profound connection and inherent value Māori place on the environment. It delves into the ways in which New Zealand law has affirmed this philosophy, particularly through the roots of the country’s environmental achievements as anchored in the Treaty of Waitangi. The chapter then presents two case studies – the Te Urewera Land Legislation and the Whanganui River Legislation – showcasing the innovative approaches taken to grant legal personhood to natural entities. It further explores the incorporation of Māori Indigenous traditional knowledge in sustainable development practices, highlighting Māori trade and the introduction of new measures of well-being and environmental protection. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the significance of giving nature legal standing and the implications for both Māori and New Zealand’s approach to sustainable development.
Keywords
Sustainable developmenttradeNew ZealandMāoriTreaty of Waitangilegal personhoodtraditional knowledgegovernanceIndigenoustreaty lawtreaty implementationsustainabilityclimate changebiodiversityjusticeguardianshipWhanaungatangaWaioraManaakitangaKaitiakitangaANTECPapatuanukuWhakapapaWairualiving standards frameworkTikanga MāorriTe Awa TupuaTe Pou Tupuaintergenerational wellbeingIndigenous trade
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Indigenous Peoples Inspiring Sustainable DevelopmentImplementing UNDRIP through International Law and Covenants, pp. 226 - 249Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
Accessibility standard: Inaccessible, or known limited accessibility
Why this information is here
This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.Accessibility Information
The HTML of this chapter is known to have missing or limited accessibility features.
We may be reviewing its accessibility for future improvement, but final compliance is
not yet assured and may be subject to legal exceptions. If you have any questions,
please contact
accessibility@cambridge.org.
Content Navigation
Table of contents navigation
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Index navigation
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Reading Order & Textual Equivalents
Single logical reading order
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
Full alternative textual descriptions
You get more than just short alt text: you have comprehensive text equivalents, transcripts, captions, or audio descriptions for substantial non‐text content, which is especially helpful for complex visuals or multimedia.
You get more than just short alt text: you have comprehensive text equivalents, transcripts, captions, or audio descriptions for substantial non‐text content, which is especially helpful for complex visuals or multimedia.
Visualised data also available as non-graphical data
You can access graphs or charts in a text or tabular format, so you are not excluded if you cannot process visual displays.
You can access graphs or charts in a text or tabular format, so you are not excluded if you cannot process visual displays.
Visual Accessibility
Use of colour is not sole means of conveying information
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
Use of high contrast between text and background colour
You benefit from high‐contrast text, which improves legibility if you have low vision or if you are reading in less‐than‐ideal lighting conditions.
You benefit from high‐contrast text, which improves legibility if you have low vision or if you are reading in less‐than‐ideal lighting conditions.