Matata

Matata is a town located in the North Island of New Zealand. The town is 24 kilometres to the north-west of Whakatane. The population of Matata in the 2001 Census was 666. In 2005 the town was inundated by two debris flows sourced in the Awatarariki and Waitepuru Streams. Although the disaster devastated a number of buildings, there were no human casualties. The cause of the debris flows was a band of intense rain (>2 mm/min) that fell into the catchments southwest of Matata, dislodging a huge build-up of debris in a temporary dam that had formed over time. 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...