Matatā

Coordinates: 37°53′S 176°45′E / 37.883°S 176.750°E / -37.883; 176.750
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the New Zealand town. For other uses, see Matata (disambiguation).

Matatā
Town
Victor Luca[1]
 • East Coast MPDana Kirkpatrick[2]
 • Waiariki MPRawiri Waititi[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
0.78 km2 (0.30 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[5]
 • Total
700
 • Density900/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Postcode(s)
3194[6]

Matatā is a town in the Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand, 24 kilometres (15 mi) to the north-west of Whakatāne. A section of the town was relocated between the years 2006 and 2021 due to increased natural threats arising from climate change. As an example of forced retreat, Matatā is seen as providing lessons for future actions elsewhere.[7]

History

Prior to the 1910s, the Tarawera River flowed west past Matatā before entering the Bay of Plenty. In 1917, the Tarawera River mouth was straightened, and the former mouth, traditionally known as Te Awa o te Atua, became silted and formed the Matatā Lagoon, to the north of the township.[8]

In 2005 the town was inundated by two

magnitude 4.2 in May 2007.[10][11]

As a result of the 2005 landslides, Whakatāne District Council began to plan for a managed retreat over the next decade for residents located near the mouth of the Awatarariki Stream. The vast majority of residents accepted the need to relocate and did so with council assistance and compensation but as of October 2021, one resident has rejected both the process and the need to move and was the sole remaining occupant of this section of the town. NIWA coastal hazards expert, Rob Bell, says the general issue of forced retreat is primarily socio‑political rather than technocratic.[7]

In 2016, scientists discovered a large amount of volcanic activity, including "an inflating magma" buildup, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) below the surface of the town.[12]

In 2019, the name of the town was officially gazetted as "Matatā".[13]

Marae

Matatā has four marae:[14][15]

  • Iramoko Marae and Te Paetata meeting house, affiliated with the
    Te Tāwera
    .
  • Ngāti Umutahi Marae and Umutahi meeting house, affiliated with the
    Te Tāwera
    .
  • Ōniao Marae and Tūwharetoa meeting house, affiliated with the
    Ngāti Manuwhare
    .
  • Rangitihi Marae and Rangiaohia meeting house is affiliated with Ngāti Rangitihi.

In October 2020, the Government committed $1,646,820 from the

Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Rangitihi Marae and five other local marae, creating 10 jobs.[16]

Demographics

Matatā is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers 0.78 km2 (0.30 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 700 as of June 2024,[5] with a population density of 897 people per km2. Matatā is part of the larger Matatā-Otakiri statistical area.

Historical population for Matatā
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006639—    
2013645+0.13%
2018681+1.09%
2023672−0.27%
Source: [17][18]

Matatā had a population of 672 in the

LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 132 people (19.6%) aged under 15 years, 102 (15.2%) aged 15 to 29, 309 (46.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 129 (19.2%) aged 65 or older.[17]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 58.5% European (Pākehā); 58.0% Māori; 3.1% Pasifika; 3.1% Asian; 0.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.0%, Māori by 16.1%, and other languages by 2.7%. No language could be spoken by 2.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 8.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.[17]

Religious affiliations were 34.4%

Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.2%, and 7.1% of people did not answer the census question.[17]

Of those at least 15 years old, 93 (17.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 306 (56.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 144 (26.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $33,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 45 people (8.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 231 (42.8%) full-time, 66 (12.2%) part-time, and 24 (4.4%) unemployed.[17]

Matatā-Otakiri statistical area

Matatā-Otakiri statistical area, which also includes the settlement of Otakiri, covers 87.44 km2 (33.76 sq mi)[20] and had an estimated population of 1,810 as of June 2024,[21] with a population density of 21 people per km2.

Historical population for Matatā-Otakiri
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,608—    
20131,671+0.55%
20181,737+0.78%
20231,746+0.10%
Source: [22][23]

Matatā-Otakiri had a population of 1,746 in the

LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 357 people (20.4%) aged under 15 years, 270 (15.5%) aged 15 to 29, 810 (46.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 309 (17.7%) aged 65 or older.[22]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 73.4% European (Pākehā); 39.2% Māori; 2.1% Pasifika; 4.5% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.1%, Māori by 10.7%, and other languages by 4.3%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[22]

Religious affiliations were 30.4%

Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, and 1.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.8%, and 8.6% of people did not answer the census question.[22]

Of those at least 15 years old, 219 (15.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 843 (60.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 324 (23.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 126 people (9.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 654 (47.1%) full-time, 222 (16.0%) part-time, and 45 (3.2%) unemployed.[22]

Education

Matata School is a decile 5 state primary school with a roll of 88 students.[25] It opened in 1872 as Matata Native School.[26]

St Joseph's Catholic School is a decile 2 integrated primary school with a roll of 39 students.[27] It opened in 1891.[28]

Both schools are coeducational and cater for years 1–8. Rolls are as of March 2025.[29]

References

  1. ^ "Victor Luca". Whakatāne District Council. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  2. ^ "East Coast - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Waiariki – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  6. ^ "worldpostalcodes". Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  7. ^
    ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  8. ^ Hamill, K. D.; Willems, N. (2024). Te Awa O Te Atua / Matatā Lagoon Water Quality, Ecology and Options for Improvement (PDF) (Report). River Lake. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  9. ^ McSaveney, M J (July 2005). The 18 May 2005 debris flow disaster at Matata: Causes and mitigation suggestions (PDF). Wellington: GeoNet. mcsaveney
  10. ^ article: Jun 15 2005 – Earthquakes Near Matata Archived 16 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ article: May 11 2007 – Renewed Earthquake Activity Near Matata Archived 16 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Scientists discover magma buildup under New Zealand town". phys.org. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  13. ^ "Place name detail: Matatā". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  15. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  16. Provincial Growth Fund
    . 9 October 2020.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Matatā (1254). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7015128–7015130 and 7015132–7015133.
  19. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  22. ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Matatā-Otakiri (202000). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Matatā-Otakiri (202000). 2018 Census place summary: Matatā-Otakiri
  24. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  25. ^ Education Counts: Matata School
  26. ^ Raureti, Ramarie (2000). Te Kura Maori o Matata = Matata Native School : 1872-1969 : untold stories (Thesis). University of Waikato.
  27. ^ Education Counts: St Joseph's Catholic School
  28. ^ "History". St Joseph's School. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  29. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
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