← 1944 1943 1942 1945 in New Zealand → 1946 1947 1948
Decades:	1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s
See also:	History of New Zealand List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history

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.

• Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,727,800^[1]
• 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^[2]

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).^[3]

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.^[4]

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)^[5]

• 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).^[6]

Cricket

Horse racing

Harness racing

• New Zealand Trotting Cup – Gold Bar^[7]
• Auckland Trotting Cup – Sea Born^[8]

Lawn bowls

The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Auckland.^[9]

• 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.^[10]
• Provincial league champions:^[11]
  • 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.