Matatā is a town in the Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand, 24 kilometres (15 mi) to the north-west of Whakatāne.

Much of the town was relocated between the years 2006 and 2021 due to increased natural threats arising from climate change.

[4] In 2005 the town was inundated by two debris flows from the Awatarariki and Waitepuru Streams that devastated a number of buildings, but did not cause any casualties.

The debris flows were caused by a band of intense rain, at a rate of over 2 mm per minute, that fell into the catchments southwest of Matatā, dislodging a huge amount of debris that had built up behind a temporary dam.

[6][7] In 2016, scientists discovered a large amount of volcanic activity, including "an inflating magma" buildup, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) below the surface of the town.

[9] As a result of the 2005 landslides, Whakatāne District Council began to plan for a managed retreat over the next decade.

The vast majority of residents accepted the need to relocate and did so with council assistance and compensation but as of October 2021,[update] one resident has rejected both the process and the need to move and is now the township's sole remaining occupant.

NIWA coastal hazards expert, Rob Bell, says the general issue of forced retreat is primarily socio‑political rather than technocratic.