Hawea Mataira
New Zealand rugby union and rugby league footballer
About Hawea Mataira
Lived 1910 – 1979 (aged 68). Hawea Mataira was a New Zealand rugby league player and rugby union player.
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. 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.
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Important facts
Related people
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Hawea Mataira?
New Zealand rugby union and rugby league footballer (1910–1979)
When was Hawea Mataira born?
Hawea Mataira was born on 3 December 1910 in Nūhaka.
When did Hawea Mataira die?
Hawea Mataira died on 15 November 1979 in Wairoa.
What was Hawea Mataira's occupation?
Hawea Mataira was a rugby league player and rugby union player.
What nationality was Hawea Mataira?
Hawea Mataira was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Hawea Mataira. https://biography.guide/hawea-mataira/
MLA: "Hawea Mataira." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/hawea-mataira/.
Chicago: "Hawea Mataira." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/hawea-mataira/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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