The following lists events that happened during 1946 in New Zealand.
Population Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,781,200. Increase since 31 December 1945: 53,400 (3.09%). Males per 100 females: 100.2.
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, succeeded same year by Lieutenant-General The Lord Freyberg VC GCMG KCB KBE DSOStatistics New Zealand: New Zealand Official Yearbook, 1990. ISSN 0078-0170 page 52
Government 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 – 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 (until 7 August), Sir Humphrey O'Leary (starting 12 August)
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
Family benefit of £1 per week becomes universal. Bank of New Zealand nationalised.
Arts and literature
See 1946 in art, 1946 in literature
Music
See: 1946 in music
Radio
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Film
See: :Category:1946 film awards, 1946 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1946 films
Sport
Archery National champions (Postal Shoot)In a postal shoot clubs compete on specified dates and the results are posted to the Association. Open: W. Burton (Gisborne) Women: P. Bryan (Auckland)
Athletics Lionel Fox wins his second national title in the men's marathon, clocking 2:40:00 in Wanganui.
Basketball 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.Todd, S. (1976) Sporting Records of New Zealand. Auckland: Moa Publications. (see 1938 and 1939)
Interprovincial champions: Men – (tie) Auckland, Wellington, Otago
Chess The 53rd National Chess Championship was held in Christchurch, and was won by T. Lepviikman of Wellington.List of New Zealand Chess Champions
Cricket
Horse racing
Harness racing New Zealand Trotting Cup – Integrity Auckland Trotting Cup – Loyal NurseAuckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz
Lawn bowls The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Christchurch. Men's singles champion – J.S. Martin (Edgeware Bowling Club) Men's pair champions – G.C. Batchelor, S.C.K. Smith (skip) (North End Bowling Club, Invercargill) Men's fours champions – W. Hillhouse, J. Gourley, J. Armstrong, F. White (skip) (Runanga Bowling Club)
Rugby union :Category:Rugby union in New Zealand, :Category:All Blacks Ranfurly Shield
Rugby league New Zealand national rugby league team
Soccer 14 September: A New Zealand team played a single game against Wellington, which they won 5–2List of New Zealand national soccer matches The Chatham Cup is won by Wellington Marist who beat Technical Old Boys of Christchurch 2–1 in the final.Chatham Cup records, nzsoccer.com 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
Births 19 February: Frank Gibson, Jr., jazz drummer (died 2025). 25 February: Grahame Thorne, rugby player, commentator and politician. 28 February: Graham Vivian, cricketer. 2 April: Richard Collinge, cricketer. 15 May: George Hawkins, politician. 24 May: Ian Kirkpatrick, rugby player. 5 June (in Wales): John Bach, actor. 17 May: Bill Wilson, Supreme Court judge (died 2025) 8 June: Graham Henry, rugby coach. 27 June: Bruce Cribb, motorcycle speedway rider. 4 July: Sam Hunt, performance poet. 22 July: Christine McElwee, politician, historian, non-fiction author and teacher (died 2022). 4 August: Paul East, politician. 1 September: Keith Quinn, broadcaster. 14 September: John Luxton, politician. 29 September: Neil Cherry, environmental scientist (died 2003). 17 October: Ian Wedde, writer. 30 November: Ken Wadsworth, cricketer (died 1976). 2 December: John Banks, politician, radio host. Doug Cowie, cricket umpire. 11 December: Stewart Murray Wilson, sex offender (died 2021). 24 December: Graham Bell, police officer and television personality (died 2025). 27 December: Bill Manhire, poet. date unknown Richard Killeen, artist.
Deaths 9 February Vincent Ward, politician. 5 March: Sir Charles Statham, politician. 26 September: William Nosworthy, politician. 10 November: Claude Weston, politician.
See also List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history History of New Zealand Military history of New Zealand Timeline of the New Zealand environment Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica
References
External links