# Matamata-Piako District

Matamata-Piako District is a local government area in the Waikato region of New Zealand. It lies to the east of the city of Hamilton.

## Geography

The district encompasses the southern end of the Hauraki Plains and much of the Thames Valley, and is bounded in the east by the Kaimai Range. The rivers Piako and Waihou run through the district.
The towns of Matamata, Morrinsville and Te Aroha are all within the district, with the Council's head office based in Te Aroha. The main industry in the region is dairy farming and Thoroughbred breeding and training. Other communities in the district include Mangateparu and Waitoa.

### Populated places

Matamata-Piako District consists of the following towns, localities, settlements and communities:

## Demographics

Matamata-Piako District covers 1,755.35 km$^2$ (677.74 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 37,700 as of June 2023, with a population density of 21.5 people per km$^2$. 8,960 people live in Morrinsville, 9,130 in Matamata, and 4,670 in Te Aroha.
Matamata-Piako District had a population of 37,098 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 2,694 people (7.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 5,562 people (17.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 18,360 males, 18,654 females and 81 people of other genders in 14,049 dwellings. 2.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 7,302 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 6,189 (16.7%) aged 15 to 29, 15,618 (42.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 7,986 (21.5%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.3% European (Pākehā); 18.6% Māori; 2.6% Pasifika; 6.9% Asian; 0.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.7%, Māori language by 4.1%, Samoan by 0.2% and other languages by 7.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 30.9% Christian, 0.9% Hindu, 0.4% Islam, 1.0% Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, and 1.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.4%, and 8.4% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 3,309 (11.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 16,698 (56.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 8,826 (29.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 2,655 people (8.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 14,922 (50.1%) people were employed full-time, 4,143 (13.9%) were part-time, and 621 (2.1%) were unemployed.
Individual wards :
| Name | Area (km$^2$) | Population | Density (per km$^2$) | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
| Morrinsville General Ward | 573.00 | 13,782 | 24.1 | 5,058 | 37.7 years | $44,200 |
| Te Aroha General Ward | 517.10 | 8,430 | 16.3 | 3,285 | 43.4 years | $35,900 |
| Matamata General Ward | 665.25 | 14,883 | 22.4 | 5,706 | 42.7 years | $39,100 |
| New Zealand | | | | | 38.1 years | $41,500 |

## Twin cities

Matamata-Piako is twinned with:
    Ballina, New South Wales, Australia