He wrote 44 books which deliberately use extremely simple English, focusing in part on his own overseas travels, including three on the State of Israel.

[citation needed] For many years Matane wrote a column in the Malaysian Chinese-owned newspaper The National, containing advice for the younger generation.

[citation needed] He, together with Grand Chief the Right Honourable Michael Somare, made a point of wearing a lap-lap (skirt) rather than trousers.

[citation needed] He was married to Lady Kaludia Matane who served her country with "great distinction" and died on 20 December 2016.

Specifically, The National reported that there was "conflicting advice from the speaker and the prime minister" regarding the proper procedure for the appointment, and that the government had Matane reappointed by "using section 87(5) of the Constitution, arguing that the absolute majority secured for Sir Paulias meant that the exhaustive secret ballot vote was not required".