1947 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1947 in New Zealand.

Population

 * Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,817,500.
 * Increase since 31 December 1946: 36,300 (2.04%).
 * Males per 100 females: 100.3.

Regal and viceregal

 * Head of State – George VI
 * Governor-General – Lieutenant-General The Lord Freyberg VC GCMG KCB KBE DSO

Government
The 28th New Zealand Parliament continued, with the Labour Party in government.


 * Speaker of the House – Robert McKeen (Labour)
 * Prime Minister – Peter Fraser
 * Minister of Finance – Walter Nash
 * Minister of Foreign Affairs – Peter Fraser
 * Attorney-General – Rex Mason
 * Chief Justice – Sir Humphrey O'Leary

Parliamentary opposition

 * Leader of the Opposition – Sidney Holland (National Party).

Main centre leaders

 * Mayor of Auckland – John Allum
 * Mayor of Hamilton – Harold Caro
 * Mayor of Wellington – Will Appleton
 * Mayor of Christchurch – Ernest Andrews
 * Mayor of Dunedin – Donald Cameron

Events

 * 19 January –The TSMV MS Wanganella, completing her first trans-tasman crossing since World War II, runs aground on Barrett Reef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. All 400 passengers are safely evacuated. The ship is refloated on 6 February but is out of service for a further 22 months.
 * 6 February – First annual Waitangi Day ceremony held by New Zealand Navy in grounds of Treaty house, Waitangi.
 * 6 March – The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performs for the first time
 * 26 March – A magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes east of Gisborne, causing a tsunami with a maximum run-up height of 10 metres.
 * 1–29 April – A series of non-violent mutinies occur aboard ships and bases of the Royal New Zealand Navy
 * 4 April – Horahora Power Station is decommissioned as the filling of Lake Karapiro floods the station.
 * 21 April – The first generator at Karapiro Power Station is commissioned.
 * 26 March – Another magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes east of Gisborne, causing a tsunami with a maximum run-up height of 6 metres.
 * 18 November – 41 people die in a fire in the Ballantyne's department store in Christchurch.


 * 25 November – The Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947 was passed making New Zealand politically independent from the United Kingdom
 * 1 December – Clothing rationing, introduced in May 1942, is abolished.

Arts and literature
See 1947 in art, 1947 in literature

Music
See: 1947 in music

Radio
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film
See: Category:1947 film awards, 1947 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1947 films

Archery
National Champions (Postal Shoot)
 * Open Men – W. Burton (Gisborne)
 * Open Women – G. Norris (Dunedin)

Athletics

 * George Bromley wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:58:54 in Auckland.

Basketball
The first interprovincial championship for women is held.

Interprovincial champions

 * Men – Auckland
 * Women – Wellington

Chess

 * The 54th National Chess Championship was held in Palmerston North, and was won by T. Lepviikman of Wellington (his 2nd win).

Harness racing

 * New Zealand Trotting Cup – Highland Fling
 * Auckland Trotting Cup – Single Direct

Lawn bowls
The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Wellington.
 * Men's singles champion – S. Vella (Onehunga Bowling Club)
 * Men's pair champions – W.R. Hawkins, Phil Exelby (skip) (Frankton Bowling Club)
 * Men's fours champions – E.H. Crowley, E. Crowley, V.F. Hurlstone, G.A. Crowley (skip) (Tolaga Bay Bowling Club)

Rugby league

 * New Zealand national rugby league team beat Wales 28-20

Soccer

 * A South African team visited New Zealand and played four internationals:
 * 28 June, Christchurch: NZ 5–6 South Africa
 * 5 July, Dunedin: NZ 0–6 South Africa
 * 12 July, Wellington: NZ 3–8	South Africa
 * 19 July, Auckland: NZ 1–4 South Africa
 * The Chatham Cup is won by Waterside of Wellington who beat Technical Old Boys of Christchurch 2–1 in the final.
 * Provincial league champions:
 * Auckland:	North Shore United
 * Canterbury:	Western
 * Hawke's Bay:	Napier HSOB
 * Nelson:	Nelson United
 * Otago:	Mosgiel AFC
 * South Canterbury:	Northern Hearts
 * Southland:	Invercargill Thistle
 * Taranaki:	Albion
 * Waikato: Claudelands Rovers
 * Wanganui:	Technical College Old Boys
 * Wellington:	Wellington Marist

Births

 * 8 January: Luke Williams, wrestler
 * 16 January: Gavan Herlihy, politician.
 * 19 February: Tim Shadbolt, politician.
 * 9 March
 * Keri Hulme, writer. (died 2021)
 * John Lister, golfer.
 * 6 May: Alan Dale, actor.
 * 6 May (in United Kingdom): Carl Doy, musician and composer.
 * 6 May: Andrew Roberts, cricketer.
 * 20 May: Margaret Wilson, politician.
 * 27 May: Glenn Turner, cricketer.
 * 1 June: Gaylene Preston, filmmaker
 * 6 June: Patrick Power, tenor.
 * 22 June: Murray Webb, cricketer and caricature artist.
 * 27 August: John Morrison, cricketer.
 * 2 September: Jim Richards, motor racing driver.
 * 13 September: Annette King, politician.
 * 14 September: Sam Neill, actor
 * 22 September: David Trist, cricket player and coach.
 * 11 December (in United Kingdom): David McGee, lawyer and public servant
 * 18 December: Marian Hobbs, politician.
 * Bill Hammond, painter.
 * Michael Wintringham, public servant.

Category:1947 births

Deaths

 * 17 January: Kahupāke Rongonui, tribal leader.
 * 10 February: Winter Hall, silent movie actor.
 * 11 March: Duncan McGregor, rugby player.
 * 24 April: Patrick O'Regan, lawyer, politician and judge.
 * 13 May: Frances Hodgkins, painter.
 * 17 May: George Forbes, 22nd Prime minister of New Zealand.
 * 30 June: Robert Frederick Way, trade unionist and activist.
 * 21 July: Agnes Fabish, domestic servant, farmer and homemaker.
 * 4 December: Margaret Butler, sculptor and artist.
 * 6 December: Robert Wright, mayor of Wellington and politician.