Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,781,200
Increase since 31/12/1945: 53,400 (3.09%)
Males per 100 females: 100.2
Regal and viceregal
Head of State - George VI
Governor-General - Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Cyril Newall GCB OM GCMG CBE AM, succeeded same year by Lieutenant-General The Lord Freyberg VC GCMG KCB KBE DSO
The 27th New Zealand Parliament concluded, with the Labour Party in government. Labour was re-elected for a fourth term in the election in November, but with a smaller majority.
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
Family benefit of £1 per week becomes universal.
Bank of New Zealand nationalised.
Arts and literature
See 1946 in art, 1946 in literature, Category:1946 books
See: 1946 in music
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
See: Category:1946 film awards, 1946 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, Category:1946 films
National Champions (Postal Shoot)
Open: W. Burton (Gisborne)
Women: P. Bryan (Auckland)
Lionel Fox wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:40:00 in Wanganui.
National Associations are formed for both men and women (now combined as Basketball New Zealand) and the first championship for men under the control of their association is held. (see 1938 and 1939)
Interprovincial champions: Men - (tie) Auckland, Wellington, Otago
The 53rd National Chess Championship was held in Christchurch, and was won by T. Lepviikman of Wellington.
New Zealand Trotting Cup: Integrity
Auckland Trotting Cup: Loyal Nurse
Category:Rugby union in New Zealand, Category:All Blacks
Ranfurly Shield
New Zealand national rugby league team
14 September: A New Zealand team played a single game against Wellington, which they won 5-2
The Chatham Cup is won by Wellington Marist who beat Technical Old Boys of Christchurch 2—1 in the final.
Provincial league champions: Auckland: Metro College
Canterbury: Western
Hawke's Bay: Napier Rovers
Nelson:
Otago: Mosgiel
South Canterbury: Fisherman
Southland: Invercargill Thistle
Taranaki: Albion
Waikato: Rotowaro
Wanganui: Technical College Old Boys
Wellington: Wellington Marist
25 February: Grahame Thorne, rugby player, commentator and politician.
28 February: Graham Vivian, cricketer.
2 April: Richard Collinge, cricketer.
24 May: Ian Kirkpatrick, rugby player.
5 June (in Wales): John Bach, actor.
8 June: Graham Henry, rugby coach.
13 June: Geoff Murphy, film director.
27 June: Bruce Cribb, motorcycle speedway rider.
4 July: Sam Hunt, performance poet.
4 August: Paul East, politician.
1 September: Keith Quinn, broadcaster.
14 September: John Luxton, politician.
29 September: Neil Cherry, environmental scientist.
17 October: Ian Wedde, writer.
30 November: Ken Wadsworth, cricketer.
2 December:
John Banks, politician, radio host.
Doug Cowie, cricket umpire.
27 December: Bill Manhire, poet.
date unknown
Frank Gibson, Jr., jazz drummer.
George Hawkins, politician.
Richard Killeen, artist.
Bruce Lynch, musician.
Category:1946 births
5 August: Sir Charles Statham, politician.
William Nosworthy, politician.
Vincent Ward, politician.
Category:1946 deaths
