{{Short description|Cook Islands netball player, coach and administrator}} {{distinguish|Margaret Matangi}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} thumb|Matenga in 2007 '''Margharet Norma Matenga''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MBE|size=85%}} (née '''Kamana'''; born {{Birth based on age as of date|65|2021|06|02|noage=1}})<ref name=RNZ21>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/programmes/champions-of-the-pacific/audio/2018797862/margharet-matenga-shooting-star-of-the-pacific |title=Margharet Matenga: Shooting star of the Pacific |publisher=RNZ |date=2 June 2021 |access-date=2 June 2021}}</ref> is a former Cook Islands netball player, coach and administrator. She played for both the New Zealand national netball team and Cook Islands national netball team and was the first Pacific Islander to play for the Silver Ferns. She is the daughter of Cook Islands MP Teanua Kamana.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://radio531pi.ongoing.co.nz/blog/cook-islands-community-mourns-teanua-papa-dan-kamana |title=Cook Islands community mourns Teanua 'Papa Dan' Kamana |publisher=Radio 531 PI |date=15 May 2018 |access-date=2 June 2021}}</ref>
Matenga was born in Rarotonga.<ref name=TT86>{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/TUTANG19860201.2.20 |title=Silky Skills Alive In Margharet Matenga |work=Tu Tangata |issue=28 |page=14 |date=1 February 1986 |access-date=2 June 2021}}</ref> After playing senior tennis as a teenager, she moved to Auckland, New Zealand in 1973 to pursue a professional tennis career.<ref name=RNZ21/><ref name=TT86/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/local/living-legends-highlight-family-values/ |title='Living legends' highlight family values |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=18 July 2017 |access-date=2 June 2021}}</ref> In 1974 she moved to Wellington, where she joined a local Pacific Islands Church netball team.<ref name=CIN2011>{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/regional/matenga-honoured-for-contribution/ |title=Matenga honoured for contribution |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=5 January 2011 |access-date=2 June 2021}}</ref> In 1975 she trialed for the Silver Ferns and was selected for the 1975 World Netball Championships as a reserve. In 1978 she was selected for the team, becoming the first Pacific Islander to play for the Silver Ferns.<ref name=RNZ21/> She subsequently competed in three World Netball Tournaments,<ref name=RNZ21/> as well as the 1985 World Games.<ref name=TT86/> During the 1980s, Matenga formed a notable shooting partnership with fellow Silver Fern Margaret Forsyth, known together as the "two Margs".<ref name=CIN2011/>
In 1989 Matenga returned to the Cook Islands, where she played for and later coached the Cook Islands national netball team, and later served as president of the Cook Islands Netball Association.<ref name=RNZ21/> She stood unsuccessfully as an independent for Titikaveka in the 2018 Cook Islands general election.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/politics/cip-decision-blamed-for-matenga-s-titikaveka-loss/ |title=CIP decision blamed for Matenga's Titikaveka loss |publisher=Cook Islands News |date=15 June 2018 |access-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618150730/http://www.cookislandsnews.com/national/politics/item/69723-cip-decision-blamed-for-matenga-s-titikaveka-loss |archive-date=18 June 2018}}</ref> She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to netball, in the 1990 New Years honours.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzlii.org/nz/other/nz_gazette/1990/10.pdf |title=New Year honours 1990 |date=26 January 1990 |work=New Zealand Gazette |pages=268 |issue=10}}</ref>
She ran as a candidate for the Cook Islands United Party at the 2022 election, losing the seat of Titikaveka by just three votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/local/from-art-to-engineering-rebirth-for-williams/ |title=From art to engineering, rebirth for Williams |publisher=Cook Islands News |author=Rashneel Kumar |date=29 June 2019 |access-date=14 August 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{New Zealand squad at the 1979 World Netball Championships}} {{New Zealand squad at the 1983 World Netball Championships}} {{New Zealand squad at the 1987 World Netball Championships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matenga, Margharet}} Category:Living people Category:1956 births Category:New Zealand international netball players Category:Netball players at the 1985 World Games Category:Cook Island netball players Category:New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire Category:1979 World Netball Championships players Category:1983 World Netball Championships players Category:1987 World Netball Championships players Category:New Zealand netball players Category:20th-century New Zealand sportswomen