The Matamata Lions Club was chartered in December 1958 -  the 8th Club in New Zealand.
Our sponsoring Club was Tauranga which chartered in 1957, we in turn sponsored Morrinsville Club in 1959, Putaruru 1961 and Te Aroha in 1962.

Early Club Meetings were held at the Matamata Hotel, Arawa St North.  Dinner was at 5:00pm and the members were required to leave by 6:00pm because of the licencing laws at the time. 
After dinner, members adjouirned to the nearby Matamata Club, and that was the beginning of a very enjoyable 60 + years of association - it is where we still meet to this day.