Legal Personality in Antarctica

This paper will critically explore New Zealand’s global trusteeship approach to Antarctica, and the development of guardianship approaches to protecting lakes, harbours, mountains, rivers, and territorial waters. In particular, the paper will examine the growing influence of indigenous claims (including the Ngāi Tahu relationship with the Sub-Antarctic islands) and novel techniques for conferring legal personality on mountains and rivers. The paper will interrogate these themes and provide tentative conclusions for a new approach to Antarctic protection based on legal personality.