Matamata

A nearby farm was the location for the Hobbiton Movie Set in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings. The New Zealand government decided to leave the Hobbit holes built on location as tourist attractions. During the period between the filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey they had no furniture or props, but could be entered with vistas of the farm viewed from inside them.^[3] A "Welcome to Hobbiton" sign has been placed on the main road. In 2011, parts of Hobbiton began to close in preparation for the three new movies based on the first Tolkien novel, The Hobbit.

Demographics

Matamata covers 6.15 km² (2.37 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 9,130 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 1,485 people per km².

Matamata had a population of 7,806 at the

Ethnicities were 84.5% European/Pākehā, 15.7% Māori, 1.7% Pacific peoples, 5.9% Asian, and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 16.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.2% had no religion, 37.2% were Christian, 1.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.7% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 678 (10.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,848 (28.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 774 people (12.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,763 (43.0%) people were employed full-time, 849 (13.2%) were part-time, and 198 (3.1%) were unemployed.^[4]

History

In the early nineteenth century, the area including and surrounding the present-day Matamata township was part of the territory of the Ngāti Hinerangi iwi and

Peria, on the outskirts of Matamata, was the scene of the Kīngitanga meeting of 1863.^[8][9]

Firth's estate later failed and by 1904 had been wholly obtained by the Crown and was subdivided into dairy farm units^[10] to take advantage of the new technology of refrigeration.^[11] It became a dependent Town District in 1917, an independent Town District in 1919 and was constituted a borough in 1935.^[7] With the re-organisation of territorial authorities in New Zealand in 1989, Matamata became part of the Matamata-Piako District.

Railway station

Matamata was a station on the Kinleith Branch, from Monday 8 March 1886.^[14] It was built by Mr D Fallon for the Thames Valley & Rotorua Railway Co. New Zealand Railways Department took over the line on 1 April 1886.^[15] Initially 40 minutes north of the temporary terminus at Oxford (Tirau) and about an hour from Morrinsville.^[16] For a while Matamata seems to have become a flag station,^[17][18] though it did have cattle yards and a 60 ft (18 m) by 30 ft (9.1 m)^[15] a goods shed.^[19] By 1886 it also had a coal shed able to hold 50 tons, a stationmaster's house, 2 cottages, urinals and a 20,000 imp gal (91,000 L) brick water tank supplied by a 60 ft (18 m) diameter windpump from a well, which was deepened that year. By 1896 Matamata had gained a 4th class station, platform, cart approach and a passing loop for 32 wagons. A telephone came in 1912 and a verandah in 1914. Authority to shift the verandah at Avondale station to Matamata when new station is built, and re-erect, amount £35. House for stationmaster. Platform extended to 175 feet. To extend it to 300 feet will cost £90. Authority for £60 for platform extension. 1919 extension of the verandah have been authorised. In 1919 part of the old Drury station building was erected as a luggage room at Matamata. Improvements are to be put in hand, estimated cost £6,000. Lighting of station and houses. 1927 Additional seating accommodation on platform. 1953 Approval for bicycle shed, estimated cost £90.^[15] There was a Post Office at the station until 1911.^[15] It had two members of staff from 1913.^[20] Matamata was included in the annual returns of railway traffic. For example, in 1924 it sold 26,367 tickets and exported 26,084 sheep and pigs.^[21] In 1950 8,868 tickets were sold and it transported 42,322 sheep and pigs.^[22] A petrol engined shunter was used in the station yard from 1936.^[23] Several Drewry 0-4-0 shunters were introduced in 1936.^[24]

The station building was replaced on Monday 17 May 1965 by a new £23,500 steel

Matamata closed to passengers on 12 November 1968,[14] but reopened to serve the Geyserland Express^[25] from 9 December 1991 until 7 October 2001.^[26]

Since closure the station has been the Railside by the Green community centre since 2002,^[27] though it is fenced off from the platform.^[28] Occasional excursions still use the platform.^[29][30]

Sports

Matamata is home to the

Educational institutions

Matamata College is the town's co-educational state secondary school,^[32][33] with a roll of 781 as of February 2024.^[34]

Matamata Intermediate is the town's co-educational state intermediate school,^[35][36] with a roll of 431.^[37]

There are two co-educational state primary schools: Matamata Primary School,^[38][39] with a roll of 436;^[40] and Firth School,^[41] with a roll of 188.^[42] The motto for Firth School is E Tipu E Rea, which translates as Grow and Flourish.^[43]

Matamata Christian School is a co-educational state integrated Christian primary school,^[44][45] with a roll of 98.^[46]

St Joseph's Catholic School is a co-educational state integrated Catholic school,^[47] with a roll of 32.^[48]

• 
  Aerial view of Matamata College in the 1940s
• 
  Front of Matamata College in the 1950s
• 
  Matamata Public School from around 1909.
• 
  Matamata Public School around 1919.

Notable people

• Shane Dye
• Casey Kopua
• Lance O'Sullivan
• Tim Mikkelson
• Hon Mike Rann CNZM
• Dame Patsy Reddy
• Dame Catherine Tizard
• Matthew Stanley
• Claudia Pond Eyley
• Kyle Wealleans
• Kristine Crabb
• Tom Sainsbury

Nearby towns

Smaller towns nearby are:

• Hinuera
• Peria
• Turanga-O-Moana
• Te Poi
• Waharoa
• Walton, New Zealand
• Wardville, New Zealand

See also

• List of towns in New Zealand
• List of reduplicated New Zealand place names

References