George Conrad Petersen (19 June 1900 – 25 October 1978) was a New Zealand lawyer, consul, local politician and historian.
At age 17, Jens Peter arrived at Napier on 24 August 1875 on an assisted immigrant on the sailing ship, Friedeburg,[1] as part of PM Sir Julius Vogel's 1870 Public Works and Immigration Scheme to attract Scandinavian settlers to the Manawatu and Wairarapa build the railway, establish farms and to fell the 70 Mile Bush, between Masterton and Napier.
Living amongst these early Scandinavian settlers and listening to their many tales sparked George's life-long interest in history.
George was author of six historical publications, four editor of Who's Who in NZ, PN City Councilor between 1947 and 1950, and received the Coronation Medal in 1953.
[3] Petersen is buried alongside his first wife in a family grave at Kelvin Grove Cemetery in Palmerston North.