1946 in New Zealand

The following lists events that happened during 1946 in New Zealand.

Population

Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,781,200.
Increase since 31 December 1945: 53,400.
Males per 100 females: 100.2.

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, succeeded same year by Lieutenant-General The Lord Freyberg VC GCMG KCB KBE DSO

Government

The 27th New Zealand Parliament concluded, with the Labour Party in government. Labour was re-elected for a fourth term in the election in November, but with a smaller majority.

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, Sir '''Humphrey O'Leary'''

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

Family benefit of £1 per week becomes universal.
Bank of New Zealand nationalised.

Arts and literature

See 1946 in art, 1946 in literature

Sport

Archery

National Champions

Open: W. Burton
Women: P. Bryan

Athletics

Lionel Fox wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:40:00 in Wanganui.

Basketball

National Associations are formed for both men and women and the first championship for men under the control of their association is held.

Interprovincial champions: Men – Auckland, Wellington, Otago

Chess

The 53rd National Chess Championship was held in Christchurch, and was won by T. Lepviikman of Wellington.

Horse racing

Harness racing

New Zealand Trotting Cup – Integrity
Auckland Trotting Cup – Loyal Nurse

Lawn bowls

The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Christchurch.

Men's singles champion – J.S. Martin
Men's pair champions – G.C. Batchelor, S.C.K. Smith
Men's fours champions – W. Hillhouse, J. Gourley, J. Armstrong, F. White

Rugby union

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

Ranfurly Shield

Rugby league

New Zealand national rugby league team

Soccer

14 September: A New Zealand team played a single game against Wellington, which they won 5–2
The Chatham Cup is won by Wellington Marist who beat Technical Old Boys of Christchurch 2–1 in the final.Provincial league champions:
* Auckland: Metro College
* Canterbury: Western
* Hawke's Bay: Napier Rovers
* Nelson:
* Otago: Mosgiel
* South Canterbury: Fisherman
* Southland: Invercargill Thistle
* Taranaki: Albion
* Waikato: Rotowaro
* Wanganui: Technical College Old Boys
* Wellington: Wellington Marist

Births

19 February: Frank Gibson, Jr., jazz drummer.
25 February: Grahame Thorne, rugby player, commentator and politician.
28 February: Graham Vivian, cricketer.
2 April: Richard Collinge, cricketer.
15 May: George Hawkins, politician.
24 May: Ian Kirkpatrick, rugby player.
5 June : John Bach, actor.
8 June: Graham Henry, rugby coach.
27 June: Bruce Cribb, motorcycle speedway rider.
4 July: Sam Hunt, performance poet.
22 July: Christine McElwee, politician, historian, non-fiction author and teacher.
4 August: Paul East, politician.
1 September: Keith Quinn, broadcaster.
14 September: John Luxton, politician.
29 September: Neil Cherry, environmental scientist.
17 October: Ian Wedde, writer.
30 November: Ken Wadsworth, cricketer.
2 December:
*John Banks, politician, radio host.
*Doug Cowie, cricket umpire.
11 December: Stewart Murray Wilson, sex offender.
24 December: Graham Bell, police officer and television personality.
27 December: Bill Manhire, poet.
date unknown
* Richard Killeen, artist.

Deaths

9 February Vincent Ward, politician.
5 March: Sir Charles Statham, politician.
26 September: William Nosworthy, politician.
10 November: Claude Weston, politician.