Matata, New Zealand

Matata is a town located in the North Island of New Zealand. The town is to the north-west of Whakatane. The population of Matata in the 2013 census was 642.In 2005 the town was inundated by two debris flows sourced in the Awatarariki and Waitepuru Streams, devastating a number of buildings but without causing casualties. The debris flows were caused by a band of intense rain, at a rate of over 2 mm/min, that fell into the catchments southwest of Matata, dislodging a huge amount of debris that had built up behind a temporary dam.Matata School is a decile 5 state primary school with a roll of 77 students. St Joseph's Catholic School is a decile 2 integrated primary school with a roll of 28 students. Both schools are coeducational and cater for years 1–8.Since January 2005 the area has been subject to hundreds of shallow, low intensity earthquakes, with the most intense swarms occurring in 2005 and 2007, but continuing as of February 2009. The largest event was of magnitude 4.2 in May 2007.In 2016, scientists discovered a large amount of volcanic activity, including "an inflating magma" buildup, below the surface of the town.