Geoff Matthews grew up in Mt.Albert with his parents, older brother and twin sister and attended Gladstone Primary School and Pasadena Intermediate School before shifting to West Auckland where he attended Glen Eden Intermediate School and Kelston Boys High School. Upon leaving school, he began training as a Quantity Surveyor but due to a nation-wide building recession, decided to train as a teacher, entering North Shore Teachers College and studying history at Auckland University.Geoff began his teaching career at Rangeview Intermediate School, Te Atatu South in 1970 and by 1979 had become a Senior Teacher specialising in Science, Special Needs children, Sport and Music. He then took up a Senior Teacher position at Halsey Drive Primary School, Lynfield before moving on to another senior position at Waikowhai Intermediate School and then Deputy Principal of Waikowhai Primary School, Mt.Roskill.
A growing interest in Christian education led Geoff to apply for the Associate Principal's position at Hebron Christian College in August 1991. After one term in the job, Geoff took up the Principal's position when the Principal, Bev Norsworthy took leave to further her university studies and start the Christian Teachers College now known as Laidlaw College School of Education.
Geoff has been instrumental in initiating and overseeing many changes at Hebron Christian College since 1992 including the enlargement of the secondary department, the beginning of bi-annual secondary student missions to Third World countries, the development of the special needs Learning Centre, the start of Middle and Secondary School annual camps, expansion of computers and technology, opening and development of the Year 13 programme and many building and property development projects.
Geoff is married to Sue, an Accident and Emergency nurse, and is the father of 5 children: Julie, married to James and mother of two daughters, Lysette a primary school teacher, Alayna, a NZ Police social worker, Dylan, married to Heidi, an engineer and Brock, a builder. Geoff and Sue attend Royal Oak Baptist Church where he is an elder and they both help out with morning tea duties and attend a fortnightly home group. Sue aslo also assists with creche and Geoff operates the data projector when rostered.
Geoff's interests include beekeeping (since the age of 13), basketball (ex-President of the New Zealand Christian Sports Association), guitar and banjo playing, photography and video editing. Since 2005 Geoff has founded and chaired the New Life Foundation (NZ) Trust, raising support and finance for the New Life Foundation orphanage and school in Tanzania (see www.nfl.org.nz).