# 1945 in New Zealand

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive
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 1946 election.
| | Male | Female | Total |
| Usually resident population | 830,385 (48.9%) | 868,614 (51.1%) | 1,698,996 |
| Overseas Visitors | 2,451 | 768 | 3,222 |
| Total | 832,908 | 869,421 | 1,702,329 |
* 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.

## 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 (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.
* 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

### 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

## Sport
### 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).

### 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 (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.