In 2017, New Zealand’s mighty Whanganui River made global legal history by becoming the first river in the world to be granted legal personhood.

In this episode of Te Araroa Tales, I sit down with Ned Tapa, a kaitiaki or guardian of the river, at his waka shed to learn more about the river's story.

Ned shares what it was like growing up on the Whanganui in the 1950s, the legal battle for the river’s rights and the history of the 1993 land dispute symbolised by the iconic blue tarps of Tīeke Marae. We discuss the deep connection he has with the river, captured by the phrase “Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au” (I am the river, the river is me), the impact of early tourism and commercialisation, and what it actually means today for a river to have a seat at the negotiating table.

Whether you're planning your own Te Araroa thru-hike or a paddle down the Whanganui as one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, interested in indigenous rights and environmental conservation, or simply love to hear human stories rooted in landscape and history, this conversation is for you.

In this episode:

• The Living River: The true meaning of the Whanganui River’s historic 2017 legal personhood

• Upriver Upbringing: Growing up on the river in the 1950s, living in sync with nature, community food-sharing, and traditional eel smoking.

• The River as a Mirror: How Māori connect personal energy, high/low tides, and the moon to the natural flow of the water.

• Cultural Connection Today: How Ned uses waka journeys to reconnect city-born youth with their heritage and to introduce international hospital staff to the river.

Chapters:

01:50 Meet Ned

03:39 Growing up on the River

05:14 From Commodity to Personhood

09:47 Life and tourism along the river today

13:46 The river's rapids and its guardians

16:12 Tikanga And River Rituals

18:21 The Tira Hoe Waka

21:01 Tieke Marae and the story of its blue roof

23:46 The River Today

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Show notes:

If you'd like to watch Ned's documentary "I am the River, the River is Me' you can find links to stream it or attend a screening here: www.iamtheriver.org