[1] In 1977, he sought the Labour nomination for the Christchurch electorate of Papanui, but was beaten by former Eden MP Mike Moore.
[4] Two years later he stood for the Labour candidacy for the Christchurch Central seat in a by-election, but was again unsuccessful.
[10] After the government was defeated he was appointed Shadow Minister of Social Security and State Services by Labour leader Mike Moore in 1991.
[citation needed] In the 1996 election, Peter Dunne was the only United politician to keep his seat, and Matthewson, who had contested the new Dunedin South electorate,[14] did not return to Parliament.
[15] At the 1998 local-body elections Matthewson ran for the position of Mayor of Dunedin, but was defeated by incumbent Sukhi Turner.