Matamata is a rural Waikato town in New Zealand with a total population of around 12,000 (6,000 in rural areas, 6,000 in the township). It is located near the base of the Kaimai Ranges, and is a thriving farming area known for Thoroughbred bloodstock. It is part of the Matamata Piako district Matamata-Piako District Council, taking in the surrounding rural areas as well as Morrinsville and Te Aroha.

State Highway 27 and the Kinleith Branch railway run through the town.

A nearby farm was the location for the Hobbiton set in Peter Jackson's film trilogy of The Lord of the Rings. A "Welcome to Hobbiton" sign has been placed on the main road. By an unusual coincidence, the world's only other Matamata – Matamata, Tunisia – was a site used during filming of George Lucas's Star Wars trilogy.

Matamata is well known for its wide streets.

Matamata is also the home of various media outlets, including studios for tvCentral, TV Rotorua and iTV Live, which is unusual for a town of such size.

New Zealand Representatives

• Brendon Leonard - All Black
• Grant McQuoid - New Zealand Sevens
• Anne Taylor - Silver Fern
• Casey Williams - Silver Fern
• Lance O'Sullivan - Jockey
• Nicola Browne - White Fern

Media

• tvCentral
• Scene
• Matamata Chronicle

Schools

All Town Schools

• Contact Details

Secondary Schools/Colleges

• Matamata College

Intermediate Schools

• Matamata Intermediate

Primary Schools

• Hinuera School
• Firth Primary School
• Matamata Primary School

Pre School & Kindergarten

• Mill Crescent Kindergarten
• Rawhiti Kindergarten

Religion Based Schools

• Matamata Christian School
• St Josephs Catholic School

External links

• Matamata i-SITE Information Centre
• Firth Tower Museum & Estate
• Matamata Sports Centre

See also

• List of towns in New Zealand

Other villages in Matamata area

• Hinuera
• Peria
• Turanga-o-moana
• Te Poi
• Waharoa
• Walton
• Wardville

ar:?????? (?????????) de:Matamata (Neuseeland) fr:Matamata (Nouvelle-Zélande) it:Matamata nl:Matamata (Nieuw-Zeeland) nn:Matamata no:Matamata