New Zealand's Maori King calls for whales to be given personhood

The King of New Zealand's Indigenous Maori people made an impassioned call Thursday for whales to be granted the same legal rights as people in a bid to protect the hallowed yet vulnerable species. King Tuheitia said granting whales the same status would act as "a cloak of protection for our taonga (treasure), our ancestor -- the whales".

Related Keywords

Whanganui ,New Zealand General ,New Zealand ,United Kingdom ,Te Moana ,Waitangi ,Ariki ,Mount Taranaki ,Cook Islands ,British ,King Tuheitia ,Pacific Ocean ,Kiingi Tuheitia Potatau ,World Wildlife Fund ,Indigenous Maori ,Tuheitia Potatau ,Whanganui River ,North Island ,Travel Tou ,Travel Tou Ariki ,World Wildlife ,Vulnerable Species ,Maori People ,Blue Whales ,Marine Mammals ,