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

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 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, below the surface of the town.

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

Marae

Matatā has four marae:

  • Iramoko Marae and Te Paetata meeting house, affiliated with the Ngāti Awa hapū of Te Tāwera.
  • Ngāti Umutahi Marae and Umutahi meeting house, affiliated with the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū of Ngāti Iramoko, Ngāti Umutahi and Te Tāwera.
  • Ōniao Marae and Tūwharetoa meeting house, affiliated with the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū of Ngāi Tamarangi, Ngāti Umutahi and 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.

Demographics

Matatā is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km<sup>2</sup>. 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.

Matatā-Otakiri statistical area

Matatā-Otakiri statistical area, which also includes the settlement of Otakiri, covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km<sup>2</sup>.

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.

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

  • 2001 Census information