Clan Matheson New Zealand is part of a global network of people interested in Matheson family history and heritage.
Our aims are to:
- foster an interest in Matheson heritage
- forge links between people in New Zealand with Matheson heritage, and between them and kinsfolk in other countries
- help people with Matheson heritage find out more about their family history and family stories.
Our New Zealand organisation is a branch of the international Clan Matheson Society, and has been active since 1989. You can read about how we began here.
Our work is growing
In 2021 we stopped charging membership subscriptions and made our resources and work available to all free of charge. The move worked. For instance, since taking that plunge we now have more than three times as many people subscribing to our newsletter. Our website contains much more material. Our Facebook group is now approaching 600 members. This is in the context of many membership organisations, including other clan societies and Scottish interest groups, struggling with falling interest and membership.
We’re here to stay
Since we moved away from a paid membership base we have put Clan Matheson New Zealand on a firm organisational footing. We have established a trust that is registered under the Charitable Trusts Act and is separately recognised as a charity under the Charities Act. You can read more about the trust here.
Clan Matheson New Zealand is managed by a committee of active volunteers. You can read more about their role here.
Our current annual plan and four-year goals are here.
Get involved
Head over to the Get involved section of our website to find out how to explore your Matheson heritage and connect with others who share your interest. You can:
- receive a free newsletter every three months
- join the Clan Matheson New Zealand Facebook group
- post queries and share stories in our family history forum
- meet others with Matheson connections.
You can also find out about more what we do and how you can contribute to our work.
International connections
Our New Zealand organisation is a branch of the international Clan Matheson Society, and has been active since 1989. The global Clan Matheson Society connects members through newsletters, websites and local and international gatherings. It helps them to discover more about their family history and connections, and links to the clan’s origins in Scotland.
Other branches of the Clan Matheson Society are in the UK, Australia, Canada and the USA.