{{Short description|New Zealand civil engineer (1896–1987)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2026}} '''Sir Russell Matthews''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|OBE}} (19 July 1896 &ndash; 25 November 1987) was a New Zealand civil engineer, roading contractor, businessman, horticulturist and philanthropist. He was born in New Plymouth on 19 July 1896.<ref name="DNZB Matthews">{{DNZB|title=Russell Matthews|first= Mary|last= Donald|id=4m47|accessdate=1 December 2011}}</ref>

==Career== Matthews was mostly involved in roading construction.<ref name="tupare"/>

==Personal life== 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''.<ref name="tupare"/>

==Tūpare== Matthews bought a property in New Plymouth in 1932 to build a homestead and establish a garden. Matthews named the property Tūpare.<ref name="tupare">{{cite magazine |magazine=Heritage New Zealand |editor1-last=Skyes |editor1-first=Caitlyn |title=House and garden |date=Winter 2024 |issue=173 |page=7 |publisher=Heritage New Zealand |issn=2253-5330}}</ref>

==Honours== Matthews was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1971 New Year Honours, for services to the community,<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/45264/supplements/39 ''London Gazette'' (supplement), No. 45264, 31 December 1970]. Retrieved 12 May 2013.</ref> and a Knight Bachelor in the 1982 New Year Honours, for services to horticulture and the community.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=48839 |date=31 December 1981 |page=39 |supp=3}}</ref>

In 2018, Matthews was posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businesshalloffame.co.nz/past-laureates/ |title=Past laureates |website=Business Hall of Fame |access-date=19 February 2023}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews, Russell}} Category:1896 births Category:1987 deaths Category:New Zealand horticulturists Category:New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire Category:New Zealand Knights Bachelor Category:People from New Plymouth Category:20th-century New Zealand businesspeople Category:20th-century New Zealand engineers Category:20th-century New Zealand philanthropists

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