A New Zealand river revered by the Maori people is granted the status of a living being by the country's parliament.
"The New Zealand parliament passed the bill recognising the Whanganui River, in North Island, as a living entity," the BBC reports. This change in legal status is seen as a win for environmentalists and the Maori people indigenous to the region. "The recognition allows it to be represented in court proceedings," the BBC writes.
Read the full story: New Zealand river first in the world to be given legal human status
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