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Joseph Matthews, Reverend
BiographyBorn at Deddington in Oxfordshire, England in 1808, Joseph Matthews was sent to New Zealand via Sydney by the Church Missionary Society (CMS), arriving at the Bay of Islands in 1832. The following year in December, he married Mary Ann Davis, the daughter of Reverend Richard Davis from Waimate North. Joseph established the Kaitaia Mission Station in 1834 with the help of William Puckey and his wife Matilda who was Mary Ann's sister. Joseph had delivered the first sermon at Kaitaia on the 11th of November in 1832 after being invited there by Te Rarawa chief Panakareao. Joseph was taught Māori by Mary Ann Davis who spoke fluently. In turn, Joseph taught Mary Ann new teaching methods which she employed in her role as teacher at Waimate North, then later at Kaitaia. Mary Matthews and Matilda Puckey ran the school for women and girls and the hospital which were established at Kaitaia. Joseph and William preached Christianity and ran the school for boys.
Joseph and Mary's son Richard was the first pakeha baby born at Kaitaia.
Joseph had to be a man of many skills including carpenter, doctor and teacher. He trained more than 22 Māori lay readers who were crucial in the work of the mission.
In 1844 he was ordained as a deacon and in 1859 he became a priest.
The first church at Kaitaia was made of raupo. A wooden building, named St Saviour's, was begun in 1839. To mark Sundays, Joseph would raise flags at his home and at the church. He continued this tradition until he died.
Mary Ann Matthews died in 1892.
Reverend Matthews remained a minister at St Saviours until ill health prevented him from working. He died on the 3rd of November in 1895. He was 87 years of age. He was buried at Kaitaia at the site of the altar of his old church, as was his wish.
GenderMaleDate of Birth1808Place of BirthDeddington, Oxfordshire, EnglandDate of Death3 November 1895
Joseph and Mary's son Richard was the first pakeha baby born at Kaitaia.
Joseph had to be a man of many skills including carpenter, doctor and teacher. He trained more than 22 Māori lay readers who were crucial in the work of the mission.
In 1844 he was ordained as a deacon and in 1859 he became a priest.
The first church at Kaitaia was made of raupo. A wooden building, named St Saviour's, was begun in 1839. To mark Sundays, Joseph would raise flags at his home and at the church. He continued this tradition until he died.
Mary Ann Matthews died in 1892.
Reverend Matthews remained a minister at St Saviours until ill health prevented him from working. He died on the 3rd of November in 1895. He was 87 years of age. He was buried at Kaitaia at the site of the altar of his old church, as was his wish.
GenderMaleDate of Birth1808Place of BirthDeddington, Oxfordshire, EnglandDate of Death3 November 1895Scrapbook
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ChildrenRichard Henry MatthewsErnest William Davis MatthewsRobert Noble Herbert MatthewsMary Sophia Louisa DunnSamuel Hayward Ford MatthewsPartnerMary Ann DavisDate Married16 November 1833
Ernest William Davis MatthewsRobert Noble Herbert MatthewsMary Sophia Louisa DunnSamuel Hayward Ford MatthewsPartnerMary Ann DavisDate Married16 November 1833Relates to
PublicationsMatthews of Kaitaia: The story of Joseph Matthews and the Kaitaia MissionThe Matthews Family of Kaitaia: Stories of the children of Joseph and Mary AnnThe Story of the Church in Kaitaia
The Matthews Family of Kaitaia: Stories of the children of Joseph and Mary AnnThe Story of the Church in KaitaiaJoseph Matthews, Reverend. Northland Room Digital Collections, accessed 19/03/2026, https://wdc.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/5066
