This is rather a long word for someone who is learning the Maori language. Maybe it is also difficult to translate, because it is so long. But it means literally “a standing place for the feet”. We are all glad when our feet are standing on something that is firm and not slippery like ice.

Let us think about our basic emotions. One of our basic emotions is that we are longing for a place on which to put out feet. We all want a spot beyond question to call our own. And this word “Turangawaewae” refers to this place.

A place or a spot has to do with geography, but the word “Turangawaewae” means much more than just a geographic location. When we hear this word we know straight away that it is connected with land and land ownership, like the word “take” pronounced “tuck-air” which, in this case means title or ownership.

But now we want to think about this word “Turangawaewae- “a standing place for the feet”. I remember that somebody once said,”Give me a firm place to stand on and I can move the world.”

Where do we find the real firm place for our feet? The firmest place, the real foundation is talked about in the Bible, the Word of God. In the part that is called the New Testament, in one of the letters to the Christians in Corinth, the Apostle Paul said, “For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid which is Jesus Christ” (First Corinthians 3:11)

The Lord Jesus is not one foundation among many; He is the ONLY foundation. Are you standing on this foundation? If you are trusting Him as your Lord and Saviour, then you are!