Matatā

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Rural settlement in Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand

title: "Matatā" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["whakatāne-district", "populated-places-in-the-bay-of-plenty-region"] description: "Rural settlement in Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand" topic_path: "general/whakatane-district" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matatā" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Rural settlement in Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameMatatā
native_name_lang
settlement_typeTown
image_skylineMatata coast.jpg
image_captionTe Awa a te Atua Beach
mapframeyes
mapframe-zoom9
pushpin_label_positionleft
coordinates
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameNew Zealand
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1Bay of Plenty
subdivision_type2Territorial authority
subdivision_name2Whakatāne District
subdivision_type3Ward
subdivision_name3Rangitāiki General Ward
subdivision_type4Community
subdivision_name4Rangitāiki Community
leader_titleTerritorial authority
leader_nameWhakatāne District Council
leader_title1Regional council
leader_name1Bay of Plenty Regional Council
leader_title2Mayor of Whakatāne
leader_name2
leader_title3East Coast MP
leader_name3
leader_title4Waiariki MP
leader_name4
seat_typeElectorates
seat
unit_prefMetric
area_footnotes
area_total_km20.78
population_footnotes
population_as_of
population_total
population_density_km2auto
postal_code_typePostcode(s)
postal_code3194
::

::callout[type=note] the New Zealand town ::

| name = Matatā | native_name = | native_name_lang = | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Matata coast.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = Te Awa a te Atua Beach | image_flag = | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | etymology = | nickname = | motto = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = left | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Bay of Plenty | subdivision_type2 = Territorial authority | subdivision_name2 = Whakatāne District | subdivision_type3 = Ward | subdivision_name3 = Rangitāiki General Ward | subdivision_type4 = Community | subdivision_name4 = Rangitāiki Community | leader_title = Territorial authority | leader_name = Whakatāne District Council | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = Bay of Plenty Regional Council | leader_title2 = Mayor of Whakatāne | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = East Coast MP | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = Waiariki MP | leader_name4 = | seat_type = Electorates | seat = | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | government_footnotes = | unit_pref = Metric tags -- | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 0.78 | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = | population_as_of = | population_total = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_note = | population_demonym = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = Postcode(s) | postal_code = 3194 | area_code_type = | area_code = | iso_code = | website = | footnotes =

Matatā is a town in the Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand, 24 km 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.

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.

In 2005 the town was inundated by two debris flows from the Awatarariki and Waitepuru Streams that devastated a number of buildings, but did not cause any casualties. The debris flows were caused by a band of intense rain, at a rate of over 2 mm per minute, that fell into the catchments southwest of Matatā, dislodging a huge amount of debris that had built up behind a temporary dam. From January 2005 the area was subject to hundreds of shallow, low intensity earthquakes, with the most intense swarms occurring in 2005 and 2007, but continuing to at least February 2009. The largest event was of magnitude 4.2 in May 2007.

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 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 sociopolitical rather than technocratic.

In 2016, scientists discovered a large amount of volcanic activity, including "an inflating magma" buildup, 10 km below the surface of the town.

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

Marae

Matatā has four marae:

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.

Demographics

Matatā is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers 0.78 km2. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Matatā is part of the larger Matatā-Otakiri statistical area.

Matatā had a population of 672 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 9 people (−1.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 27 people (4.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 330 males, 339 females, and 3 people of other genders in 246 dwellings. 2.2% of people identified as 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.

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.

Religious affiliations were 34.4% Christian, 4.5% 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.

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.

Matatā-Otakiri statistical area

Matatā-Otakiri statistical area, which also includes the settlement of Otakiri, covers 87.44 km2 and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Matatā-Otakiri had a population of 1,746 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 9 people (0.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 75 people (4.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 867 males, 876 females, and 3 people of other genders in 636 dwellings. 1.5% of people identified as 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.

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.

Religious affiliations were 30.4% Christian, 0.2% Islam, 2.9% 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.

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.

Education

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

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

Both schools are coeducational and cater for years 1–8. Rolls are as of

References

References

  1. "worldpostalcodes".
  2. (2024). "Te Awa O Te Atua / Matatā Lagoon Water Quality, Ecology and Options for Improvement". River Lake.
  3. (July 2005). "The 18 May 2005 debris flow disaster at Matata: Causes and mitigation suggestions". [[GeoNet (New Zealand).
  4. [http://www.geonet.org.nz/news/archives/2005/15-june-2005-earthquakes-near-matata.html article: Jun 15 2005 – Earthquakes Near Matata] {{webarchive. link. (16 October 2008)
  5. [http://www.geonet.org.nz/news/archives/2007/article-may-11-2007-renewed-earthquake-activity-near-matata.html article: May 11 2007 – Renewed Earthquake Activity Near Matata] {{webarchive. link. (16 October 2008)
  6. "Enhancing housing recovery policy and practice for improving community resilience to future disasters {{!}} AHURI".
  7. (29 October 2021). "Forced retreat: one New Zealand town's fate highlights coming fight over climate adaptation". The Guardian.
  8. "Scientists discover magma buildup under New Zealand town".
  9. {{LINZ. 29183. Matatā. 2 August 2019
  10. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". [[Te Puni Kōkiri]].
  11. "Māori Maps". Te Potiki National Trust.
  12. (9 October 2020). "Marae Announcements". [[Provincial Growth Fund]].
  13. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service".
  14. {{NZ census 2018. 7015128–7015130 and 7015132–7015133
  15. "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  16. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  17. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service".
  18. {{NZ census 2018. Matatā-Otakiri (202000). matata-otakiri. Matatā-Otakiri
  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.
  20. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  21. {{TKI. 1818. Matata School
  22. Raureti, Ramarie. (2000). "Te Kura Maori o Matata = Matata Native School : 1872-1969 : untold stories". [[University of Waikato]].
  23. {{TKI. 1948. St Joseph's Catholic School
  24. "History". St Joseph's School.

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whakatāne-districtpopulated-places-in-the-bay-of-plenty-region