The following lists events that happened during 1938 in New Zealand. Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,618,500 Increase since 31 December 1937: 16,500 (1.03%) Males per 100 females: 103.2 Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – George VI Governor-General – The Viscount Galway GCMG DSO OBE PC Government The 25th New Zealand Parliament continues with the Labour Party in government. The general election in October results in the Labour government being returned for the 26th New Zealand Parliament. Speaker of the House – Bill Barnard (Labour Party) Prime Minister – Michael Joseph Savage Minister of Finance – Walter Nash Minister of Foreign Affairs – Michael Joseph Savage Attorney-General – Rex Mason Chief Justice – Sir Michael Myers Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – Adam Hamilton (National Party). Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – Ernest Davis Mayor of Wellington – Thomas Hislop Mayor of Christchurch – John Beanland then Robert M. Macfarlane Mayor of Dunedin – Edwin Thomas Cox then Andrew Henson Allen Events 19 February: 21 people working on the Wairoa-Gisborne railway are drowned when a flash flood hits a works camp at Kopuawhara near Mahia. The Times, formerly The Gisborne Times, is purchased by its opposition, The Poverty Bay Herald, which the following year becomes The Gisborne Herald. Arts and literature See 1938 in art, 1938 in literature, :Category:1938 books Music See: 1938 in music Radio See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand Film New Zealand Review no.5, Mountain Holiday, See: :Category:1938 film awards, 1938 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1938 films Sport Basketball An interprovincial championship is held even though there is no national association at this time. Interpovincial Champions – Men: Otago British Empire Games Chess The 47th National Chess Championship was held in Dunedin, and was won by S. Hindin of Christchurch. Golf The 28th New Zealand Open championship was won by A.D. Locke. The 42nd National Amateur Championships were held in Otago Men: JP.G.F. Smith (Akarana) Women – matchplay: Miss S. Collins Women – strokeplay: Mrs R. Fullerton-Smith Horse racing Harness racing New Zealand Trotting Cup – Morello Auckland Trotting Cup –Navy Blue Lawn bowls The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Dunedin. Men's singles champion – W.D. Bennett (Hastings Bowling Club) Men's pair champions – R.B. Clarke, C.E. Tyrrell (skip) (Roslyn Bowling Club) Men's fours champions – Stanley Snedden, F. Redpath,