Stephens, Matthew A.2018-12-152018-12-152018-06https://hdl.handle.net/1794/2410559 pages. Presented to the Department of Environmental Studies and the Robert D. Clark Honors College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science June, 2018This thesis aims to consider and analyze the philosophical frames that inform the Te Awa Tupua Act, specifically the ethical veracity of its central tenant that grants legal personhood to the Whanganui River and whether the protections afforded to the Whanganui River should be utilized as a model for other nations in the effort to protect and preserve our natural landscapes, resources, and cultural heritage.en-USCreative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0-USEnvironmental studiesRights of natureWhanganui RiverDeep ecologyEnvironmental philosophyPersonhoodDualismThesis/Dissertation