1945 in New Zealand

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.
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.
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).
Cricket
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.
See also
History of New Zealand
List of years in New Zealand
Military history of New Zealand
Timeline of New Zealand history
Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica
Timeline of the New Zealand environment
For world events and topics in 1945 not specifically related to New Zealand see: 1945
References
External links
Years of the 20th century in New Zealand