1947 in New Zealand

Population

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,817,500
• Increase since 31 December 1946: 36,300
• Males per 100 females: 100.3

  Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

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

  Government

• Speaker of the House – Robert McKeen
• 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.

  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, completing her first trans-tasman crossing since World War II, went aground on Barrett Reef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. All 400 passengers were safely evacuated and the ship was refloated on 6 February but was 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.
• February – Holy Name Seminary, Christchurch established.
• 6 March – The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performs for the first time
• 1–29 April – A series of non-violent mutinies occur aboards 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.
• 18 November – 41 people die in a fire in the Ballantyne's department store in Christchurch.

  Arts and literature

Music

Radio

Film

Sport

Archery

• Open Men – W. Burton
• Open Women – G. Norris

  Athletics

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

  Basketball

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.

  Cricket

Horse racing

Harness racing

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

  Lawn bowls

• Men's singles champion – S. Vella
• Men's pair champions – W.R. Hawkins, Phil Exelby
• Men's fours champions – E.H. Crowley, E. Crowley, V.F. Hurlstone, G.A. Crowley

  Rugby

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

• 16 January: Gavan Herlihy, politician.
• 19 February: Tim Shadbolt, politician.
• 9 March: Keri Hulme, writer.
• 9 March: John Lister, golfer.
• 6 May: Alan Dale, actor.
• 6 May : 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.
• 22 September: David Trist, cricket player and coach.
• 18 December: Marian Hobbs, politician.
• Bill Hammond, painter.
• Michael Wintringham, public servant.

Deaths

• 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.
• 6 December: Robert Alexander Wright, mayor of Wellington and politician.