Our new home has a name
Written by Phil Guyan | CEO
As we prepared to move from Penrose to Mt Eden, we were anxious to ask the local iwi for their blessing as we moved into their neighbourhood.
Through good friends, we were introduced to Rev Otene Reweti – a distinguished kaumatua from Ngāti Whātua, whose traditional lands encompass Mt Eden. He graciously agreed to introduce our dedication service, pray, and bless our ‘moving in’. He also offered to lead a dawn blessing, and so, as the sun rose on our very first day at our new premises, we met and prayed through the building.
But, rewind a week. As we were discussing the dedication service, Otene asked me ‘what is the building called’? Until then we’d been referring to the new premises as ‘231’, or ‘Mt Eden’, or simply ‘the new building’.
Otene said he’d like to gift a name to us, and proposed ‘Te Rongopai’.
The word ‘Te Rongopai’ is a beautiful example of how Māori translators and thinkers wove deep cultural concepts into new ideas. While the most common translation for Te Rongopai is "The Gospel" or "The Good News," its wider meanings come from the root words: rongo: "to hear," "sound," "report," "news" and pai: "good".
It is news that is heard and is good. As a media ministry with its core being radio and podcasting, the idea of ‘good news that is heard’ seemed incredibly appropriate.
In te reo Māori, "rongo" is not just about hearing with the ears; it means "to feel," "to sense," "to taste," and "to perceive." So, "Te Rongopai" is not just intellectually "good information." It is "goodness that is experienced" - it's a message that changes your state of being.
Furthermore, the word "rongo" is the foundation for "rangimārie," the Māori concept of peace, harmony, and reconciliation. When there is "rongo," there is peace and resolution. When there is conflict, the goal is to bring "rongo."
When the first missionary translators were looking for a word to translate the Greek euangelion ("good news"), they didn't just choose "good news." They specifically chose a word rooted in peace.
Therefore, "Te Rongopai" is not just any good news. It is specifically "The Good News of Peace." It implies a proclaimed message that restores harmony between God and humanity, and between people.
Five years ago, in 2020, I was challenged to write my “Vision for CBA in 2025”. I wrote a two-page story, in which I imagined overseas visitors coming to see what CBA was all about. That story included these words: the journey of healing and reconciliation between Māori and the ‘people of the treaty’ is a critical part of how we understand Te Rongopai (The Good News) and our role of reflecting the Way of Christ.
I read this as I was preparing my speech for the dedication service – several days after that conversation with Otene – and I was reminded of how our good and faithful God goes ahead of us, prepares the way, and provides in His perfect timing.