The People

There are three main settlements within the District, Matamata, Morrinsville and Te Aroha.

Matamata is situated on the broad valley floor known as the Matamata Plain, between the Kaimai Range to the east, and the Peria hills on the west. Matamata is the centre of a large dairying, cattle fattening and horse breeding area. The township is the main service and distribution centre for this area, and its industries include; engineering, concrete products, stock-feed manufacture, fibrous plaster, joinery and furniture, wrought-iron work, and popular decorative building stone which is quarried 8km to the south, at Hinuera.

Te Aroha is sited at the base of Mt Te Aroha and serves the surrounding farming district. It features a landscaped Domain with Hot Mineral Spa Baths. Famous for the Hot Springs Domain, Te Aroha attracts many visitors to the hot mineral spas. The domain, in the centre of the town, covers an area of 44 hectares and includes lawns, formal gardens, and barbecue and picnic areas. Many mountain and bush walks and mountain biking trails start at the hot pool’s complex.

Morrinsville is situated approximately 26km from Hamilton on flat dairy farming land. The town has established itself around the dairying industry. Other local industry that has established within the vicinity of Morrinsville includes the De Gussa peroxide chemical plant and a fertiliser factory.

Usually resident poulation 1996 Figures from the 1996 census indicate that the population of the district is declining. In 1991 the population of the district was 29,847 which declined to 29,661 in 1996. However, the three main centres of Te Aroha, Matamata and Morrinsville all experi-enced population growth ranging from 0.31% for Te Aroha to 1.5% and 1.51% for Morrinsville and Matamata, respectively. The areas within the district that experienced significant population decline were Waitoa (-17.98%) and Waharoa (-13.95%).