The following lists events that happened during 1948 in New Zealand. Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,853,900 Increase since 31 December 1947: 36,400 (2.00%) Males per 100 females: 100.5 Incumbents 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 31 May – Tea rationing, introduced in June 1942, is abolished. 27 August – Sugar rationing, introduced in April 1942, is abolished. 27 September – Meat rationing, introduced in March 1944, is abolished. Butter remains the sole food product still under rationing. The Marlborough Press, which was founded in 1860, is taken over by The Marlborough Express. Italy establishes a consulate in Wellington. Arts and literature See 1948 in art, 1948 in literature, :Category:1948 books Music See: 1948 in music Radio See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand Film See: :Category:1948 film awards, 1948 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1948 films Sport Archery The national championships are held at a single venue for the first time replacing the previous postal shoot. National Champions Open Men – H. Butel (Dunedin) Open Women – D. Johnstone (Dunedin) Athletics Jack Clarke wins the national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:44:06 in Dunedin. Basketball Interpovincial Champions: Men – Palmerston North Interpovincial Champions: Women – Palmerston North Chess The 55th National Chess Championship was held in Dunedin, and was won by R.G. Wade of Wellington (his 3rd win). Horse racing Harness racing New Zealand Trotting Cup – Highland Fling (2nd win) Auckland Trotting Cup – Captain Sandy Lawn bowls The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Dunedin. Men's singles champion – S. Marriott (Opawa Bowling Club) Men's pair champions – M.A. Marinovich, S. Garelja (skip) (Oratia Bowling Club) Men's fours champions – J.W.T. Macklow, Frank Livingstone, Alec Robertson, J.H. Mingins