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 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 19 January –The TSMV , 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. February – Holy Name Seminary, Christchurch (Catholic) established. 6 March – The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performs for the first time 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. 18 November – 41 people die in a fire in the Ballantyne's department store in Christchurch. 1 December – Clothing rationing, introduced in May 1942, is abolished. Arts and literature See 1947 in art, 1947 in literature, :Category:1947 books 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 Sport 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 –