The following lists events that happened during 1923 in New Zealand. Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – George V Governor-General – John Jellicoe, Viscount Jellicoe Government The 21st New Zealand Parliament begins. The Reform Party governs as a minority with the support of independents. Speaker of the House – Charles Statham (Independent) Prime Minister – William Massey Minister of Finance – William Massey Minister of External Affairs – Ernest Lee until 13 January, then Francis Bell from 7 June Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Thomas Wilford (Liberal Party) Judiciary Chief Justice – Sir Robert Stout Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – James Gunson Mayor of Wellington – Robert Wright Mayor of Christchurch – Henry Thacker, succeeded by James Flesher Mayor of Dunedin – James Douglas, succeeded by Harold Tapley Events 28 March – The Tauranga by-election is won by Charles Edward MacMillan (Reform Party) March – The inflation rate in New Zealand reaches its lowest recorded value, −15.3 per cent 1 May – The Oamaru by-election is won by John MacPherson (Liberal Party) 14 June − The New Zealand Permanent Air Force, the forerunner of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, is established 6 July – The Ongarue railway disaster results in the deaths of 17 passengers when the overnight Auckland-Wellington Express runs into a landslip at Ongarue near Taumarunui 4 August – Opening of the Otira Tunnel on the Midland Line 15 December – The British and Intercolonial Exhibition opens in Hokitika Undated New Zealand gains the right to conduct its own trade negotiations independently of Britain The Ross Dependency is claimed by Britain and placed under New Zealand administration The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand is formed The Royal Navy battlecruiser HMS New Zealand, funded by the New Zealand government as a gift to Britain before World War I, is broken up for scrap Arts and literature See 1923 in art, 1923 in literature, :Category:1923 books Music Production of the musical "Tutankhamen" by L.P.Leary at His Majesty's Theatre in Auckland. Music by Eric Waters. See: 1923 in music Radio A set of Broadcasting regulations are issued under the Post And Telegraph Act 1920. Under the new regulations the country is divided into four numerical transmission regions. The regulations also stipulate that the owner of a receiving set is to pay an annual licence of five shillings while permission to