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 (the first for ten years) could be done before the.


 * Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,727,800
 * Increase since previous 31 December 1944: 51,500 (3.07%)
 * Males per 100 females: 98.1
 * Large increase is due to demobilisation of New Zealanders from military service overseas.

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 (Labour)
 * 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 (National Party).

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.
 * 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

Music
See: 1945 in music

Radio
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand

Film
See: Category:1945 film awards, 1945 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1945 films

Archery
National Champions (Postal Shoot)
 * Open: W. Burton (Gisborne)
 * Women: P. Bryan (Auckland)

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 (his 2nd win).

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 (Carlton Bowling Club)
 * Men's pair champions – J.W. Darroch, L. Russell (skip) (Auckland Bowling Club)
 * Men's fours champions – J. Franklin, H. Berry, J.A. Maher, Arthur Engebretsen (skip) (Heretaunga Bowling Club)

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 (d. 2020).
 * 30 January: Eion Edgar, businessman, sports administrator, and philanthropist (d. 2021).
 * 5 February: Michael Cullen, politician (d. 2021).
 * 21 February: Jim McLay, politician.
 * 4 April: Bryan Andrews, cricketer.
 * 11 April: David McPhail, comedian, actor, writer (d. 2021).
 * 11 April: Winston Peters, politician.
 * 5 September: Conal Coad, opera singer.
 * 7 September: Vic Pollard, cricketer.
 * 10 October: Moana Jackson, lawyer (d. 2022).
 * 19 September Bill Jeffries, politician.
 * 15 November: Roger Donaldson, film director.
 * 15 December: Michael King, historian (d. 2004).

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.