A census was held in 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
Increase since previous 31/12/1944: 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
The 27th New Zealand Parliament continued, with the Labour Party in government.
Speaker of the House - Frederick Schramm (Labour)
Prime Minister - Peter Fraser
Minister of Finance - Walter Nash
Minister of Foreign Affairs - Peter Fraser
Attorney-General - Rex Mason
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
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.
Arts and literature
See 1945 in art, 1945 in literature, Category:1945 books
See: 1945 in music
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
See: Category:1945 film awards, 1945 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1945 films
National Champions (Postal Shoot)
Open: W. Burton (Gisborne)
Women: P. Bryan (Auckland)
Lionel Fox wins his first national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:54:09.2 in Wellington.
The 52nd National Chess Championship was held in Auckland, and was won by R.G. Wade of Wellington (his 2nd win).
New Zealand Trotting Cup: Gold Bar
Auckland Trotting Cup: Sea Born
Category:Rugby union in New Zealand, Category:All Blacks
Ranfurly Shield
New Zealand national rugby league team
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
17 January: Jeanette Fitzsimons, politician and environmentalist.
5 February: Michael Cullen, politician.
21 February: Jim McLay, politician.
4 April: Bryan Andrews, cricketer.
11 April: David McPhail, comedian, actor, writer.
11 April: Winston Peters, politician.
5 September: Conal Coad, opera singer.
7 September: Vic Pollard, cricketer.
15 November: Roger Donaldson, film director.
15 December: Michael King, historian.
Bill Jeffries, politician.
February: David Russell, soldier awarded the George Cross.
15 April: Raffaello Squarise, Italian violinist
11 December: Albert Moss, cricketer.
Arthur Bignell, businessman, mayor.
Edith Joan Lyttleton, writer.
Category:1945 deaths
