Global citizens understand their connection to the living world.
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Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au — I am the river and the river is me.
— Traditional saying of Whanganui iwi (people/tribe)
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The Whanganui River is the longest navigable river in Aotearoa New Zealand. From Mount Tongariro to the Tasman Sea, the river has provided physical and spiritual support to Whanganui River iwi and their hapū (extended family).
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In March 2017, the Whanganui River became the first river in the world to be given the same legal rights as a human being. This was the culmination of New Zealand’s longest standing legal battle. The deed of settlement recognised the river as an:
... indivisible and living whole, comprising the Whanganui River from the mountains to the sea, incorporating its tributaries and its physical and metaphysical elements ... Te Awa Tupua will also be recognised as a legal person. Reflecting the view of the river as a living and integrated whole, Te Awa Tupua will have its own legal personality with all the corresponding rights, duties and liabilities of a legal person.
— Ruruku Whakatupua — Deed of Settlement
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