Mātāwai is a small inland settlement in the Gisborne Region in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island. It is located on the upper reaches of the Motu River, in the Raukumara Range.[1] It is on State Highway 2 between Gisborne and Ōpōtiki.[2]
The Matawai War Memorial Hall was opened in 1952, replacing a previous hall built in 1910. It was refurbished in 2016 to accommodate war rolls of honour from neighbouring communities.[3]
The settlement's main reserve, Matawai Reserve, is a sports ground and local park.[4]
The local Mātāwai Marae and Tapapa meeting house is a meeting place of Te Aitanga ā Māhaki's hapū of Ngā Pōtiki, Ngāti Mātāwai, Ngāti Wahia and Te Whānau a Taupara.[5] [6]
In October 2020, the Government committed $812,548 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade it and Te Wainui Marae, creating 15.4 jobs.[7]
Matawai School is a Year 1-8 co-educational public primary school.[8] In 2019, it was a decile 4 school with a roll of 58.[9]
The nearby Otoko School was closed in 1997.