The Tohorā Oranga Bill introduced in the New Zealand parliament looks to shift the perception of whales from natural resources to right-bearing creatures. If passed, the bill would influence decisions around fishing, shipping, seabed mining and coastal development. The bill, introduced by Teanau Tuiono, a Green Party member of the New Zealand Parliament in the House of Representatives, will recognize five rights for whales: freedom of movement and migration, protection of natural behaviors, protection of social and cultural structures, the right to a healthy environment, and the right to restoration and regeneration of habitats and ecosystems. This bill comes after chiefs from the island nations signed He Whakaputanga Moana, the Whale Protection and Legal Personhood Declaration, in 2024, recognizing whales as legal persons with inherent rights, including the right to freedom of movement, a healthy environment, and the ability to thrive alongside humanity. “This bill represents a transformation in how we protect our marine species and the wider moana, to create a law that would protect whales by legally recognizing their mana,” Tuiono said.
