1946 in New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following lists events that happened during 1946 in New Zealand.
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Population
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 DSO [2]
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
Main centre leaders
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
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) [4]
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.[5] (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.[6]
Cricket
Horse racing
Harness racing
- New Zealand Trotting Cup – Integrity[7]
- Auckland Trotting Cup – Loyal Nurse[8]
Lawn bowls
The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Christchurch.[9]
- 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
Rugby league
Soccer
- 14 September: A New Zealand team played a single game against Wellington, which they won 5–2[10]
- The Chatham Cup is won by Wellington Marist who beat Technical Old Boys of Christchurch 2–1 in the final.[11]
- Provincial league champions: [12]
- 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.
