It can be found on the northern portion of the Tonga-Kermadec volcanic arc which extends from North Island of New Zealand all the way to Samoa.

[2] Rift zones form by the spreading of the lithosphere as the magma upwells towards the surface.

These hydrothermal and volcanic systems are caused by the rollback of the Tonga Trench which has also created the back-arc Lau Basin.

This rollback created an area of spreading centers and rift zones with active hydrothermal vents.

[4] Recent papers suggest that East Mata is hydrothermally active however it usually generates low-temperature and weak venting.