Mata-Utu
Decide whether to visit or live in Mata-Utu, then explore current conditions, local people, the map, and concise sourced context.
Check visit & living safetyUpdated Monday, October 26, 2026 · sourced live layer and versioned editorial content
AI-assisted, evidence-constrained research · how this page is made
Would you visit or live in Mata-Utu?
Choose your plan and circumstances. The result changes immediately using today's advisory, weather, air-quality, and sourced local signals.
Generally suitable with routine precautions
Standard travel advice applies; visitors should verify entry requirements, especially for dual nationals returning to the UK.
high source confidence · current planning signal, not a personal-safety guaranteeSee the evidence and calculation
- No high-severity wording detected in the supplied advisory
- Latest air-quality reading is not elevated
- political stability
- low crime levels
- limited medical facilities
The score combines dated official-advisory wording, weather, air quality, sourced local context, and your selections. It does not predict crime or individual outcomes. Check local authorities and professional advice before a safety-critical decision.
Climate normals · 2016–2025
When to go: Mata-Utu month by month
Judged purely on 2016–2025 weather records, the friendliest months in Mata-Utu are typically June, August and September, with average daytime highs around 28–28°C. April is usually the warmest month (average high 29°C), August the coldest (average low 26°C), and February the wettest (about 482 mm). These are long-run averages, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sunshine (h/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.5 | 26.6 | 354 | 9.5 |
| February | 28.5 | 26.6 | 482 | 8.5 |
| March | 28.5 | 26.5 | 245 | 10.5 |
| April | 28.6 | 26.7 | 239 | 10.1 |
| May | 28.5 | 26.6 | 237 | 9.7 |
| June | 28.2 | 26.5 | 148 | 10.0 |
| July | 27.7 | 26.1 | 166 | 10.2 |
| August | 27.5 | 26.0 | 133 | 10.7 |
| September | 27.5 | 26.0 | 134 | 10.9 |
| October | 27.8 | 26.0 | 239 | 10.7 |
| November | 28.1 | 26.1 | 278 | 10.8 |
| December | 28.4 | 26.3 | 332 | 10.6 |
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People and places shaping Mata-Utu
AI-assisted local research, regenerated with the dated live layer. Every requested module remains visible; facts appear only after a source check, and unavailable categories explain what is still being researched.
Research updated Monday, September 14, 2026Past and future events in Mata-Utu
Upcoming
No future event in Mata-Utu currently has a sufficiently reliable date and source. This is checked again on every refresh.
Previously
- Documented history · 1837
Roman Catholic missionaries, who came to the island in 1837, ensured that the entire population of the islands was converted to Christianity, in a short period of five years.
- Roman Catholic missionaries arrival
Missionaries arrived in 1837 and converted the entire population to Christianity within five years.
Sources checked (2)
Interactive geography
See Mata-Utu in context
Keep the deeper context
Stable history, culture, districts, and practical reference remain in the main reading flow while the live layers above continue changing.
01 · OverviewMata-Utu, in brief
Mata-Utu is the capital city of Wallis and Futuna, functioning as the administrative headquarters and business center of the Wallis islands within the overseas collectivity of France. Situated on the island of Uvéa in the district of Hahake, the settlement serves as the largest urban center on Wallis Island and operates as one of the territory's two designated ports.
Positioned on the eastern coast along the main coastal thoroughfare known as the RT1 road, the town lies within an island territory encompassing an area of 60 square kilometres. The surrounding geographic layout features a marine environment framed by coral reefs, with an offshore lagoon extending beyond Mata-Utu Bay where small islets such as Luaniva, Fugalei, Nukuhione, and Nukuhifala provide secure anchorages for ships because the immediate local shoreline is inadequate for that purpose. Inland from the coast, the terrain rises toward the hill of Mt. Lulu Fakahega, which reaches a height of 145 metres and serves as the physical backdrop of the village.
The municipal layout is organized around central transport corridors, specifically where the north-south RT1 route intersects with the RT3 road coming from the west directly in the town center. For broader regional connectivity, Hihifo Airport functions as the main aviation facility serving the island and city, located 5.6 kilometres to the northwest. Regionally, the settlement occupies a strategic position within the larger Wallis archipelago, located between Tahiti and Nouméa.
Historically shaped by medieval Tuʻi Tonga invasions and 19th-century French development, the urban landscape integrates distinct administrative, cultural, and structural elements. Downtown features the prominent Matâ'Utu Cathedral, which overlooks the lagoon and bears the royal insignia of Wallis, alongside the simple Palace of the King of Uvéa and the Fale Fono platform used by tribal chiefs. Essential infrastructure within the municipal boundaries includes the Sia Hospital, local rugby facilities such as Stade Laione Rugby, Stade Lomipeau, and Stade de Kafika, and a military history museum maintained by the Uvea Museum Association.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mata-Utu
Essential geographic, demographic, currency, and travel context verified from primary records.
01 · Q&AWhere is Mata-Utu located and what are its coordinates?
Mata-Utu is situated in Wallis and Futuna at geographic coordinates -13.2816, -176.1745, with an elevation monitored in regional geographic surveys.
02 · Q&AWhat is the population and time zone of Mata-Utu?
Mata-Utu has a recorded population of approximately 1,200 and observes the Pacific/Wallis time zone.
03 · Q&AWhat languages and currency are used in Mata-Utu?
Official and commonly spoken languages in Mata-Utu include WLS, FUD, FR-WF, with XPF used for local transactions.
04 · Q&AHow can I check live conditions and daily updates for Mata-Utu?
Today's Atlas provides continuous tracking for Mata-Utu, featuring real-time weather conditions, daylight cycles, local geographic signals, and verified daily briefs.