Russell Matthews

Sir Russell Matthews was a New Zealand civil engineer, roading contractor, businessman, horticulturist and philanthropist. He was born in New Plymouth, New Zealand, on 19 July 1896.

Career

Matthews was mostly involved in roading construction.

Matthews was passionate for horticulture and was a fellow of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. He was a member of the New Zealand Rhododendron Association and founded the Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust.

Matthews bought a property in New Plymouth in 1932 to build a homestead and establish a garden. Matthews named the property Tūpare.

Matthews was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1971 New Year Honours, for services to the community, and a Knight Bachelor in the 1982 New Year Honours, for services to horticulture and the community.
In 2018, Matthews was posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.