Waimata is a rural valley in the

Gisborne District Gisborne District or the Gisborne Region (Māori language, Māori: ''Te Tairāwhiti'' or ''Te Tai Rāwhiti'') is a local government area of northeastern New Zealand. It is governed by Gisborne District Council, a unitary authority (with the co ...

of New Zealand's

North Island The North Island ( , 'the fish of Māui', historically New Ulster) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait. With an area of , it is the List ...

. The Rhythm and Vines music festival is located in the valley.

History

English immigrant and former police officer Lee Askew started beef farming in the area in 2015. She claimed to have been inspired to move there by watching British sitcom '' The Good Life'' while growing up in

Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...

. A mud volcano erupted in the valley in December 2018. A month later, it had covered about 1.2 hectares in white mud and saline water. The volcanic activity in the valley is believed to be due to movement between the Australian tectonic plate and the Pacific tectonic plate.

Parks

Gray's Bush Scenic Reserve is a conservation reserve owned and operated by

Department of Conservation Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

, which includes walkway tracks.

References

{{Gisborne District Populated places in the Gisborne District