Photo: New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22796, 2 August 1937, Page 16 — CC BY 4.0Source
Hawea Mataira
rugby league player · rugby union player
- December 3, 1910 · Nūhaka
- November 15, 1979 · Wairoa
- 68 years
About Hawea Mataira
Hawea Mataira, 68, New Zealand rugby player.
Explore other notable deaths in 1979 or deaths in November 1979.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know Hawea Mataira?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
Advertisement
Full Biography
|Hawea Karepa Mataira (3 December 1910 – 15 November 1979) was a dual-code rugby football player who represented New Zealand in both rugby union and rugby league.
Rugby union career
Mataira made his first class debut in 1931 and in 1932 made his debut for Hawke's Bay. He went on to play 35 first class matches for Hawke's Bay between 1932 and 1936.
In 1934 he made his All Blacks debut on a tour of Australia. The next year he was a surprise omission from the 1935–36 tour of Great Britain. Mataira also represented New Zealand Māori.
In 1936 Mataira became involved in a dispute with a teammate over a jersey. His teammate, Bernard Edward Rogers was knocked down during the fight and suffered a fractured skull after striking his head as he fell. He died from his injuries. Mataira was charged with manslaughter but was acquitted after it was found that Rogers had been the aggressor and Mataira had tried hard to avoid coming to blows.
Rugby league career
Mataira switched codes in 1937, moving to Auckland and joining the City Rovers club in the Auckland Rugby League competition. Mataira later joined the Manukau club. He was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team 1939 tour of Great Britain and France but the tour was cancelled before any Test matches were played due to the outbreak of World War II.
After the War, Mataira represented New Zealand Māori against several touring sides.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about Hawea Mataira on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawea_Mataira
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Hawea Mataira's archived record and the sources above.
1.Why was the 1939 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France cancelled?
- A.Political unrest
- B.Outbreak of World War IIcorrect
- C.Player strike
- D.Financial difficulties
The 1939 tour was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II.
Source: Rugby league career
2.What representative team did Hawea Karepa Mataira play for after the War?
- A.Pacific Islanders
- B.North Island team
- C.Auckland provincial team
- D.New Zealand Māoricorrect
After the War, Hawea Karepa Mataira represented New Zealand Māori against several touring sides.
Source: Rugby league career
3.On what date did Hawea Karepa Mataira die?
- A.3 December 1979
- B.12 October 1978
- C.20 December 1980
- D.15 November 1979correct
Hawea Karepa Mataira died on 15 November 1979.
Source: biographical introduction
4.In which rugby union team did Hawea Karepa Mataira debut in 1932?
- A.Hawke's Baycorrect
- B.Wellington
- C.Canterbury
- D.Auckland
Hawea Karepa Mataira made his debut for Hawke's Bay in 1932.
Source: Rugby union career
5.What was the reason the 1936 incident involved a dispute between Hawea Karepa Mataira and his teammate?
- A.A dispute over a jerseycorrect
- B.A contract disagreement
- C.A match result
- D.Selection for the team
In 1936, Hawea Karepa Mataira became involved in a dispute with a teammate over a jersey.
Source: Rugby union career
6.Who was the aggressor in the 1936 physical altercation involving Hawea Karepa Mataira?
- A.The team captain
- B.The referee
- C.Hawea Karepa Mataira
- D.Bernard Edward Rogerscorrect
The court found that Bernard Edward Rogers had been the aggressor in the fight.
Source: Rugby union career
7.Which rugby league club did Hawea Karepa Mataira join after playing for City Rovers?
- A.Marist
- B.Mount Albert
- C.Manukaucorrect
- D.Otahuhu
Hawea Karepa Mataira later joined the Manukau rugby league club.
Source: Rugby league career
8.When was Hawea Karepa Mataira born?
- A.15 November 1912
- B.12 March 1910
- C.3 December 1910correct
- D.3 December 1915
Hawea Karepa Mataira was born on 3 December 1910.
Source: biographical introduction
9.What sport did Hawea Karepa Mataira play besides rugby union?
- A.Cricket
- B.Association football
- C.Field hockey
- D.Rugby leaguecorrect
Hawea Karepa Mataira was a dual-code player who represented New Zealand in both rugby union and rugby league.
Source: biographical introduction
10.In what year did Hawea Karepa Mataira make his first class rugby union debut?
- A.1930
- B.1932
- C.1931correct
- D.1934
Hawea Karepa Mataira made his first class rugby union debut in 1931.
Source: Rugby union career
11.How many first class matches did Hawea Karepa Mataira play for Hawke's Bay?
- A.40
- B.35correct
- C.25
- D.30
Hawea Karepa Mataira played 35 first class matches for Hawke's Bay between 1932 and 1936.
Source: Rugby union career
12.When did Hawea Karepa Mataira make his All Blacks debut?
- A.1935
- B.1936
- C.1932
- D.1934correct
Hawea Karepa Mataira made his All Blacks debut in 1934 on a tour of Australia.
Source: Rugby union career
13.Who was the teammate that died following a dispute with Hawea Karepa Mataira?
- A.Bernard Edward Rogerscorrect
- B.Charles Thomas Smith
- C.Arthur James Miller
- D.David William Jones
Bernard Edward Rogers died from his injuries after a fight with Hawea Karepa Mataira.
Source: Rugby union career
14.What was the legal outcome for Hawea Karepa Mataira regarding the death of Bernard Edward Rogers?
- A.Acquitted of manslaughtercorrect
- B.Convicted of murder
- C.Given a suspended sentence
- D.Sentenced to prison
Hawea Karepa Mataira was charged with manslaughter but was acquitted after investigation.
Source: Rugby union career
15.In what year did Hawea Karepa Mataira switch to rugby league?
- A.1937correct
- B.1935
- C.1936
- D.1938
Hawea Karepa Mataira switched codes to rugby league in 1937.
Source: Rugby league career
16.Which club did Hawea Karepa Mataira join after moving to Auckland?
- A.City Roverscorrect
- B.Richmond Rovers
- C.Newton Rangers
- D.Ponsonby Ponies
Upon moving to Auckland in 1937, Hawea Karepa Mataira joined the City Rovers club.
Source: Rugby league career
Explore the archive
People who died on November 15
Related People
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for Hawea Mataira →Advertisement
