1947 in New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following lists events that happened during 1947 in New Zealand.
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Population
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
Government
The 28th New Zealand Parliament continued, with the Labour Party in government.
Parliamentary opposition
Main centre leaders
Events
- 19 January –The TSMV Wanganella, 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.[4]
- 6 February – First annual Waitangi Day ceremony held by New Zealand Navy in grounds of Treaty house, Waitangi.
- 6 March – The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performs for the first time
- 26 March – A magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes east of Gisborne, causing a tsunami with a maximum run-up height of 10 metres.
- 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.
- 26 March – Another magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes east of Gisborne, causing a tsunami with a maximum run-up height of 6 metres.
- 18 November – 41 people die in a fire in the Ballantyne's department store in Christchurch.
- 25 November – The Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947 was passed making New Zealand politically independent from the United Kingdom
- 1 December – Clothing rationing, introduced in May 1942, is abolished.[5]
Arts and literature
See 1947 in art, 1947 in literature
Music
See: 1947 in music
Radio
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)[6]
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.[7]
Interprovincial champions
- Men – Auckland
- Women – Wellington
Chess
- The 54th National Chess Championship was held in Palmerston North, and was won by T. Lepviikman of Wellington (his 2nd win).[8]
Cricket
Horse racing
Harness racing
- New Zealand Trotting Cup – Highland Fling[9]
- Auckland Trotting Cup – Single Direct[10]
Lawn bowls
The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Wellington.[11]
- Men's singles champion – S. Vella (Onehunga Bowling Club)
- Men's pair champions – W.R. Hawkins, Phil Exelby (skip) (Frankton Bowling Club)
- Men's fours champions – E.H. Crowley, E. Crowley, V.F. Hurlstone, G.A. Crowley (skip) (Tolaga Bay Bowling Club)
Rugby
Rugby league
- New Zealand national rugby league team beat Wales 28-20
Soccer
- A South African team visited New Zealand and played four internationals:[12]
- 28 June, Christchurch: NZ 5–6 South Africa
- 5 July, Dunedin: NZ 0–6 South Africa
- 12 July, Wellington: NZ 3–8 South Africa
- 19 July, Auckland: NZ 1–4 South Africa
- The Chatham Cup is won by Waterside of Wellington who beat Technical Old Boys of Christchurch 2–1 in the final.[13]
- Provincial league champions:[14]
- Auckland: North Shore United
- Canterbury: Western
- Hawke's Bay: Napier HSOB
- Nelson: Nelson United
- Otago: Mosgiel AFC
- South Canterbury: Northern Hearts
- Southland: Invercargill Thistle
- Taranaki: Albion
- Waikato: Claudelands Rovers
- Wanganui: Technical College Old Boys
- Wellington: Wellington Marist
Births
- 8 January: Luke Williams, wrestler
- 16 January: Gavan Herlihy, politician.
- 19 February: Tim Shadbolt, politician. (died 2026)
- 9 March
- Keri Hulme, writer. (died 2021)
- John Lister, golfer.
- 6 May: Alan Dale, actor.
- 6 May (in United Kingdom): Carl Doy, musician and composer.
- 6 May: Andrew Roberts, cricketer. (died 1989)
- 20 May: Margaret Wilson, politician.
- 27 May: Glenn Turner, cricketer.
- 1 June: Gaylene Preston, filmmaker
- 6 June: Patrick Power, tenor.
- 22 June: Murray Webb, cricketer and caricature artist.
- 27 August: John Morrison, cricketer.
- 2 September: Jim Richards, motor racing driver.
- 13 September: Annette King, politician.
- 14 September: Sam Neill, actor
- 22 September: David Trist, cricket player and coach. (died 2025)
- 11 December (in United Kingdom): David McGee, lawyer and public servant (died 2023)
- 18 December: Marian Hobbs, politician.
- Bill Hammond, painter. (died 2021)
- Michael Wintringham, public servant.
Deaths
- 17 January: Kahupāke Rongonui, tribal leader.[15]
- 10 February: Winter Hall, silent movie actor.
- 11 March: Duncan McGregor, rugby player.
- 24 April: Patrick O'Regan, lawyer, politician and judge.
- 13 May: Frances Hodgkins, painter.
- 17 May: George Forbes, 22nd Prime minister of New Zealand.
- 30 June: Robert Frederick Way, trade unionist and activist.
- 21 July: Agnes Fabish, domestic servant, farmer and homemaker.[16]
- 4 December: Margaret Butler, sculptor and artist.
- 6 December: Robert Wright, mayor of Wellington and politician.
