whakatangata whenua
1. (verb) (-tia) to host, become comfortable with, become like a local.
He pono, he mea uaua te momotu mai a tētahi tangata i a ia i te whenua i whakatangata whenuatia ai ia, pēnei me au i momotu mai nei i a au i Niu Tīreni (HKW 1/1/1900:11). / It's true that it's difficult for a person to leave the country that has hosted him, like me leaving New Zealand.
2. (noun) naturalisation.
Ko te whakatangata whenua i ngā tāngata o ngā iwi kē e heke mai ana ki ngā koroni (Nga Korero Paremete: 1896-1899:4). / The naturalisation of people of other countries who are immigrating to the colonies.
