Reverend Joseph Henry Matthews

The first missionary in the Kaitaia area.

GEDCOM Note

The Rev Joseph Matthews born 1808 who had come to New Zealand in 1832 having completed his Church missionary training in Islington, London, England. He travelled on the convict ship "Argyle" as the young chaplain. In this time of sailing ships the long journey via Cape Horn must have been long and hazardous but he arrived safely in Parramatta, Sydney where Samuel Marsden urged him to find a wife before continuing the journey to his New Zealand destination. Marsden advised Joseph that as New Zealand was so remote it was no place for a young man with no wife. Not tempted, though before leaving he actually purchased a ring in Sydney, he arrived in the Bay of Islands in March 1832 for an appointment to the new inland Mission Station of Waimate North. It was there that he met his future wife, Mary Ann Davis who was in charge of the missionary school. Mary had spent a terrifying nine months with her family when travelling to New Zealand often battened down on the sailing ship, the "Brothers" due to the wild storms.

The paramount Maori chief Nopera Panakareao of the Rarawa tribe (who in an earlier incident saved the Rev Joseph from being thrown onto the hangi by his tribe) was interested in his vision to establish a church. In turn Nopera invited him to form a mission station at Kaitaia. With the Maori's help he built the church and then in preparation for his marriage in 1833 he built a three roomed raupo whare 30 x 14 feet to serve as home until he could build a wooden one. Ten years later Joseph was ordained deacon then in 1959 Bishop Selwyn ordained him as priest.

In an extract from a letter by a parishioner "Mr. Matthews is an exceedingly nice man, pious without affectation, mild in manners, kind, thoughtful, considerate and wise. When I go for divine service they always expect me to dine. There is a greater freedom of manners here than at home, without bordering on the immodest." Quite a tribute!

And there were many more accolades to this gentle missionary who also taught his knowledge to 22 Maori lay readers, many who were later ordained. It must have been very frustrating in 1884 when his vicarage was burnt to the ground. Not only was their family home lost but also irreplaceable treasures such as all his wife Mary Ann's valuables, a collection of Maori artifacts, a fine library and all his personal journals kept from the time he left England.

GEDCOM Note

GEDCOM Note

(Research):Oct 1831 William Gilbert Puckey marries Matilda Davis Joseph Matthews arrives in Sydney aboard the 'Argyle', one of the Church Missionary School's newest recruits Sept.1831 Mar1832 Joseph Matthews travels to Paihia, in the Bay of Islands of New Zealand where he meets a woman he has only dreamed about mid 1833 He travels north to the Kaitaia region to reconnoiter, largely at the request of local Maori, then returns to Paihia Oct 1833 Joseph Matthews holds the first church service in Kaitaia, in a church built of raupo Dec 1833 Joseph Matthews marries the woman he dreamed of, Mary Ann Davis, sister to Matilda Puckey 1834 Matthews and Puckey families move to Kaitaia to start their mission station in ernest.

GEDCOM Note