The following lists events that happened during 1967 in New Zealand. Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 2,745,000 Increase since 31 December 1966: 33,700 (1.24%) Males per 100 females: 100.2 Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Brigadier Sir Bernard Fergusson GCMG GCVO DSO OBE, followed by Sir Arthur Porritt Bt GCMG GCVO CBE. Government The 35th Parliament of New Zealand commenced, with the second National government in power. Speaker of the House – Roy Jack. Prime Minister – Keith Holyoake Deputy Prime Minister – Jack Marshall. Minister of Finance – Harry Lake until 21 February (death), then Robert Muldoon. Minister of Foreign Affairs – Keith Holyoake. Attorney-General – Ralph Hanan. Chief Justice — Sir Richard Wild Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Norman Kirk (Labour). Leader of the Social Credit Party – Vernon Cracknell Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Roy McElroy Mayor of Hamilton – Denis Rogers Mayor of Wellington – Frank Kitts Mayor of Christchurch – George Manning Mayor of Dunedin – Russell John Calvert Events 19 January – A gas explosion in the Strongman coal mine near Greymouth kills 19 miners. 23-26 January – The Prime Minister of South Vietnam, Air Marshall Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, tours New Zealand. February – Free milk in schools (a half pint daily for each primary school pupil) was stopped, it had been distributed since 1937. Some schools continued it with parents paying. 11 March – 1967 Southern Maori by-election: Whetu Tirikatene (Labour) wins the by-election, replacing her late father, Eruera Tirikatene (Labour). 19 March – Two tigers are shot dead in Newtown after escaping an insecure enclosure at Wellington Zoo. 15 April 1967 Fendalton by-election: Eric Holland (National) wins the by-election, replacing the late Harry Lake (National). 1967 Petone by-election: Fraser Colman (Labour) wins the by-election, replacing the late Mick Moohan (Labour). 7-17 May – Railway workers strike after failed wage talks with the government, cancelling rail services nationwide for eleven days. 10 July – The nation's currency is decimalised, with the New Zealand dollar replacing the New Zealand pound at a rate of two dollars to a pound. 23 September – Referendums were held on whether to extend hotel closing hours (passed), and whether to extend the term of Parliament (failed; see referendum). 9 October – Three weeks after the referendum, bar closing times were extended to 10pm; ending the six