Matahi
Matahi | |
|---|---|
Rural community | |
| Coordinates: 38°13′34″S 176°50′24″E / 38.226°S 176.840°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| Territorial authority | Whakatāne District |
| Ward | Te Urewera General Ward |
| Community | Tāneatua Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Whakatāne District Council |
| • Regional council | Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Whakatāne | Victor Luca[1] |
| • East Coast MP | Dana Kirkpatrick[2] |
| • Waiariki MP | Rawiri Waititi[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 376.60 km2 (145.41 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[5] | |
• Total | 141 |
| • Density | 0.37/km2 (0.97/sq mi) |
Matahi is a rural valley in the Whakatāne District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island.
History and culture
20th century
Rua Kenana Hepetipa, a Māori prophet, faith healer and land rights activist, established the settlement in 1910.[6][7] He had established the settlement of Maungapohatu three years earlier.[8]
For several years, Rua lived between Matahi, with his youngest wife Te Atawhai Tara or Piimia, and Maungapohatu, with his first wife Pinepine Te Rika. From 1912, Matahi went through a period of growth, while Maungapohatu went through decline.[8] Rua spent an increasing amount of time in Matahi, and was there when he died in 1937.[9][7]
During the 1918 flu pandemic, the area did not have the high mortality rate of other parts of eastern Bay of Plenty.[10]
The Matahi Bridge was destroyed and the area was cut off by landslips during severe flooding in March 1964. One of Rua's grandsons had to be rescued by helicopter after being badly injured in the severe weather.[11]
By 1986, some descendants and followers of Rua returned to Matahi with young families to live closer to their marae and a traditional way of life.[10]
21st century
In 2010, Bay of Plenty man Pomare Mason was killed by his younger brother Whairiri Tamataonui Terewa in the valley, during an argument about the ownership of a home.[12]
The valley was cut off, and Matahi Valley Road was closed, due to flooding and slips in April 2014.[13] The valley was also affected by flooding in March and April 2017.[14]
In July 2016 a mother and four children went missing in Te Urewera protected area, and Lions Hut on Matahi Valley Road became the base for the search operation.[15] Relatives searched the area on their own, against official advice, and found the group about 30 minutes' from the valley road.[16]
Marae
The valley is the rohe (tribal area) of the Tuhoe people. It has several marae:[17]
- Matahi Marae and Te Huinga ō te Kura house is affiliated with Ngāi Tamatuhirae and was established in 1925. In October 2020, the Government committed $508,757 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Tataiāhape Marae, Piripari Marae, Matahi Marae and Tanatana Marae, creating 9.8 jobs.[18]
- Omuriwaka Marae and Te Tātua o Hape ki Tūārangi house is affiliated with Ngāi Tamatuhirae.
- Tuapo Marae and Te Ao Hou house is affiliated with Tamakaimoana.
- Whakarae Marae and Toi te Huatahi house is affiliated with Whakatāne Hapū and Ngāi Tama and was established in 1930.
Demographics
Matahi valley, including other small settlements further up the Waimana/Tauranga River, covers 376.60 km2 (145.41 sq mi).[4] It is part of the Waingarara-Waimana statistical area.[19]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 96 | — |
| 2013 | 96 | +0.00% |
| 2018 | 96 | +0.00% |
| 2023 | 141 | +7.99% |
| Source: [5][20] | ||
Matahi valley had a population of 141 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 45 people (46.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 45 people (46.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 75 males and 72 females in 33 dwellings.[21] 2.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 30.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 39 people (27.7%) aged under 15 years, 30 (21.3%) aged 15 to 29, 63 (44.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 12 (8.5%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 23.4% European (Pākehā), 95.7% Māori, and 4.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 100.0%, and Māori by 44.7%. No language could be spoken by 2.1% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 2.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 19.1% Christian, 23.4% Māori religious beliefs, 2.1% New Age, and 2.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 51.1%, and 8.5% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 6 (5.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 69 (67.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 27 (26.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $28,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 3 people (2.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 33 (32.4%) full-time, 9 (8.8%) part-time, and 12 (11.8%) unemployed.[5]
Education
Te Kura Mana Māori o Matahi is a co-educational state Māori language immersion primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[22] with a roll of 12 as of July 2025.[23][24] It opened in 1921.[25]
References
- ^ "Victor Luca". Whakatāne District Council. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "East Coast - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Waiariki – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7015342. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Binney, Judith. "Rua Kēnana Hepetipa". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- ^ a b Foster, Bernard John (1966). "Rua Kenana Hepetipa". teara.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- ^ a b Binney, Judith (2004). "Maungapohatu Revisited" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of History. 38 (2): 169–202.
- ^ "Prophet Rua Kenana lives on". Māori Television. 3 April 2016.
- ^ a b Binney, Judith (1996). The survivors - Ngā Mōrehu. Auckland: Auckland University Press. ISBN 978-1869401474.
- ^ "Tauranga valley floods". Wilson & Horton. New Zealand Herald. 16 March 1964.
- ^ "Grisly details of death revealed". stuff.co.nz. New Zealand Press Association. 19 January 2010.
- ^ Shanks, Katee (19 April 2014). "Eastern Bay under water". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Rotorua Daily Post.
- ^ "First Edgecumbe residents get to go home". stuff.co.nz. 9 April 2017.
- ^ Kerr, Florence (21 July 2016). "Searchers find woman, four kids who were missing in Te Urewera". stuff.co.nz. Waikato Times.
- ^ Wall, Tony (23 July 2016). "Lorna Mohi-Roberts and four lost children dug cave, survived on ferns in Urewera bush ordeal". stuff.co.nz. Sunday Star-Times.
- ^ "Waimana Marae". ngaituhoe.iwi.nz. Tuhoe.
- ^ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7015342.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Te Kura Mana Māori o Matahi Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Te Kura Mana Māori o Matahi Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ Little, E E (November 1975). "The isolated school of Matahi, Eastern Bay of Plenty". Historical Review: 84–85.