1945 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1945 in New Zealand.

Population

A census was held on 25 September 1945. This was a year earlier than the established pattern, to make up for the lack of a census in 1941 due to World War II, and so that an electoral redistribution could be done before the.

Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,727,800
Increase since previous 31 December 1944: 51,500
Males per 100 females: 98.1
Large increase is due to demobilisation of New Zealanders from military service overseas.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

Head of State – George VI
Governor-General – Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Cyril Newall GCB OM GCMG CBE AM

Government

The 27th New Zealand Parliament continued, with the Labour Party in government.

Speaker of the House – Bill Schramm
Prime Minister – Peter Fraser
Minister of Finance – Walter Nash
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Peter Fraser
Attorney-General – Rex Mason
Chief Justice – Sir '''Michael Myers'''

Parliamentary opposition

Leader of the Opposition – Sidney Holland.

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

2 May: New Zealand 2nd Division accepts surrender of the German Army in Trieste.
22 November: A storm causes the partial collapse of the Onekaka Wharf, causing the wharf to be abandoned.
15 December: Main North Line railway linking Christchurch and Picton is completed and officially opened over seventy years after construction began.
Saturday and Sunday trading by most retail outlets, apart from dairies and takeaway food outlets, is banned.

Arts and literature

See 1945 in art, 1945 in literature

Sport

Archery

National Champions

Open: W. Burton
Women: P. Bryan

Athletics

Lionel Fox wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:54:09.2 in Wellington.

Chess

The 52nd National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by R.G. Wade of Wellington.

Horse racing

Harness racing

New Zealand Trotting Cup – Gold Bar
Auckland Trotting Cup – Sea Born

Lawn bowls

The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Auckland.

Men's singles champion – J.S. Martin
Men's pair champions – J.W. Darroch, L. Russell
Men's fours champions – J. Franklin, H. Berry, J.A. Maher, Arthur Engebretsen

Rugby union

:Category:Rugby union in New Zealand, :Category:All Blacks

Ranfurly Shield

Rugby league

New Zealand national rugby league team

Soccer

The Chatham Cup is won by Western of Christchurch who beat Wellington Marist 4–3 in the final.Provincial league champions:
* Auckland: Philomel
* Canterbury: Western
* Hawke's Bay: Napier HSOB
* Nelson: RNZAF
* Otago: Mosgiel
* South Canterbury: No competition
* Southland: No competition
* Taranaki: Old Boys
* Waikato: Rotowaro
* Wanganui: No competition
* Wellington: Wellington Marist

Births

17 January: Jeanette Fitzsimons, politician and environmentalist.
30 January: Eion Edgar, businessman, sports administrator, and philanthropist.
5 February: Michael Cullen, politician.
21 February: Jim McLay, politician.
4 April: Bryan Andrews, cricketer.
11 April: David McPhail, comedian, actor, writer.
11 April: Winston Peters, politician.
5 September: Conal Coad, opera singer.
7 September: Vic Pollard, cricketer.
10 October: Moana Jackson, lawyer.
19 September Bill Jeffries, politician.
15 November: Roger Donaldson, film director.
15 December: Michael King, historian.

Deaths

February: David Russell, soldier awarded the George Cross.
10 March: Edith Joan Lyttleton, writer.
15 April: Raffaello Squarise, Italian violinist
6 June: Ewen Alison, politician.
24 August Michael Reardon, political activist
11 December: Albert Moss, cricketer.