mātua whāngai
1. (noun) foster parents, adoptive parents.
Ahakoa te pōhara, ka mutu mai i ngā mātua whāngai o Eruera te kaha o te pukumahi, me te pūmau o te hāpai i te Hāhi Ringatū (TTR 2000:117). / Although poor, Eruera's foster parents were extremely hard-working and devout in their observance of the Ringatū Faith.
See also whāngai