Matatoki
Lunch at the Matatoki Cheese Barn
Lunch at the Matatoki Cheese Barn
Coordinates: 37°12′28″S 175°36′24″E / 37.20778°S 175.60667°E / -37.20778; 175.60667
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato
DistrictThames-Coromandel District
WardThames ward
Community BoardThames Community
Electorates
Government
 • CouncilThames-Coromandel District Council

Matatoki is a locality on the Hauraki Plains of New Zealand. It lies on State Highway 26, south east of Thames and north of Paeroa. The Matatoki Stream runs from the Coromandel Range through the area to join the Waihou River.[1][2]

The Kopu sawmill, a few km north of Matatoki, closed at the end of June, 2008, with the loss of 145 jobs.[3]

History

The eastern bank of the Waihou River near Matatoki was the location for many Hauraki Māori pā, such as Oruarangi pā and Paterangi pā, which were likely first settled in the 1300s.[4] Between the 1930s and 1960s, Oruarangi pā was an important archaeological site for Classic period Māori artifacts.[4]

Demographics

Matatoki-Puriri statistical area covers 161.07 km2 (62.19 sq mi)[5] and had an estimated population of 1,190 as of June 2023,[6] with a population density of 7 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,062—    
20131,002−0.83%
20181,059+1.11%
Source: [7]

Matatoki-Puriri had a population of 1,059 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 57 people (5.7%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 3 people (−0.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 396 households, comprising 540 males and 519 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 45.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 204 people (19.3%) aged under 15 years, 165 (15.6%) aged 15 to 29, 507 (47.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 180 (17.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.2% European/Pākehā, 17.0% Māori, 1.4% Pacific peoples, 0.6% Asian, and 0.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 8.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.5% had no religion, 28.0% were Christian, 0.6% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu and 0.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 90 (10.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 234 (27.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 108 people (12.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 477 (55.8%) people were employed full-time, 153 (17.9%) were part-time, and 15 (1.8%) were unemployed.[7]

Education

Matatoki School is a coeducational full primary school (years 1–8) with a roll of 84 as of April 2023.[8][9] The school opened in 1920.[10]

Railway station

Matatoki station site, now part of the Hauraki Rail Trail, in 2023

Matatoki had a railway station, just south of the village (37°12′33″S 175°36′11″E / 37.20917°S 175.60306°E / -37.20917; 175.60306),[11] from 1898 to 1995 on the Thames Branch. Larkins and O'Brien built the Kopu to Hikutaia section from August 1885 for £10,879,[12] had made good progress by January 1886[13] and completed that section through Matatoki in May 1887.[14] Heath and Irwin started building the Hikutaia to Paeroa section, to the south, in January 1887.[15][16] Work on the Paeroa to Te Aroha section began in 1892,[17] but in 1895 it was said, "a Parliamentary faction stopped the workers in their work".[18] Work on the bridges resumed in 1897.[19] The Minister of Public Works was able to travel by train from Hikutaia, through Matatoki, to Thames in July 1897.[20]

The Thames to Paeroa section of the line opened on Monday, 19 December 1898, with Matatoki as a flag station. It had a partly built 6th class station (a shelter shed), 100 ft (30 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m) platform and a loading bank. A year later there was also a passing loop for 35 wagons and a siding. By 1966 there was also a low-level loading bank for Matatoki Quarries to load crushed metal.[21]

Passenger trains were withdrawn on 28 March 1951 and freight on 22 February 1971, though Matatoki reopened for freight on 28 February 1974, closed again on 20 July 1980 and re-opened again on 30 November 1984, until June 28, 1991, the last day of commercial traffic on the Thames branch, which officially closed on March 29, 1995.[22] It is now used by the Hauraki Rail Trail.[23]

Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Puriri
Line closed, station closed
3.66 km (2.27 mi)		   Thames Branch
New Zealand Railways Department		   Kopu
Line closed, station closed
4.05 km (2.52 mi)

References

  1. ↑ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 15. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  2. ↑ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 44. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  3. ↑ "Kopu mill to close, 145 jobs to be lost". The New Zealand Herald. 6 May 2008.
  4. 1 2 Prickett, Nigel (1990). "ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AT RAUPA: THE 1987 SEASON". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 27: 73–153. ISSN 0067-0464.
  5. ↑ "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Matatoki-Puriri (168300). 2018 Census place summary: Matatoki-Puriri
  8. ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  9. ↑ Education Counts: Matatoki School
  10. ↑ "Matatoki School Centenary 1920 to 2020!". Matatoki School. 10 March 2020. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020.
  11. ↑ "1:63360 map Sheet: N49 Thames". www.mapspast.org.nz. 1953. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  12. ↑ "WAIKATO-THAMES RAILWAY. Thames Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 August 1885. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  13. ↑ "Thames Advertiser". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 18 January 1886. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  14. ↑ "Te Aroha News". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 14 May 1887. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  15. ↑ "LATEST TELEGRAMS. Te Aroha News". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 8 January 1887. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  16. ↑ "Thames Advertiser". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 22 March 1887. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  17. ↑ "Thames Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 12 May 1892. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  18. ↑ "The Rambler. Thames Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 13 June 1895. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  19. ↑ "Thames Advertiser". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 11 March 1897. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  20. ↑ "HON. W. HALL-JONES. Ohinemuri Gazette". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 28 July 1897. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  21. ↑ Scoble, Juliet. "Station Archive". Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
  22. ↑ "Juliet Scoble: Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  23. ↑ "Section D: Paeroa to Te Aroha". haurakirailtrail.co.nz. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
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