Definition of "matai"

matai¹

noun
plural matais or matai
1. A Samoan chief.

matai²

noun
plural matais or matai
1. A coniferous tree, Prumnopitys taxifolia, endemic to New Zealand.
  Quotations
  Constructed from the native timbers rimu, kauri, or matai, the interior has been refurbished in sympathy with the era of the home. The five bedrooms are individually designed, all with private balconies or verandahs.
  2008, “The Peppertree”, in Friars Guide to New Zealand Accommodation for the Discerning Traveller 2009‎, Auckland: Hodder Moa, page 150