Summary: We study and generalize the class of qubit topological stabilizer codes that arise in the abelian phase of the honeycomb lattice model. The resulting family of codes, which we call ‘matching codes’ realize the same anyon model as the surface codes, and so may be similarly used in proposals for quantum computation. We show that these codes are particularly well suited to engineering twist defects that behave as Majorana modes. A proof of principle system that demonstrates the braiding properties of the Majoranas is discussed that requires only three qubits.