The following lists events that happened during 1944 in New Zealand.
Population
- Estimated population as of 31 December: 1,676,300.
- Increase since 31 December 1943: 34,300 (2.09%).
- Males per 100 females: 94.3.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
Government
The 27th New Zealand Parliament commenced, with the Labour Party in government.
Parliamentary opposition
Main centre leaders
Events
- 21 January â New Zealand and Australia sign the Canberra Pact in which they agree to cooperate on international affairs.
- 15 March â New Zealand General Freyberg orders the destruction of the monastery at Cassino using 775 aircraft, 1250 tons of bombs, and 200,000 shells. At the end of the battle, New Zealand has lost 1050 men, one of the worst days in its history.
- March â Meat rationing is introduced, with an allowance of 1/9 to 2/- per person per week.
- October US Navy closes US Naval Base New Zealand
- 31 October â Refugees from Eastern Poland, 800 including 734 orphaned children, arrive in New Zealand via Siberia and Iran.
- The New Zealand head tax on Chinese immigrants from 1881 (63 years) is repealed.
Arts and literature
See 1944 in art, 1944 in literature
Music
See: 1944 in music
Radio
See: Public broadcasting in New Zealand
Film
See: , 1944 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand,
Sport
Archery
National Champions (Postal Shoot)
Chess
- The 51st National Chess Championship was held in Wellington, and was won by R.G. Wade of Wellington.
Cricket
Horse racing
Harness racing
Lawn bowls
The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Dunedin.
- Men's singles champion â M.J. Squire (Hawera Bowling Club)
- Men's pair champions â P.H. Edwards, E.W. Travers (skip) (St Kilda Bowling Club)
- Men's fours champions â W. Chapman, A.E. Seymour, J.A. Whyte, C.G. Spearman (skip) (Christchurch RSA Bowling Club)
Rugby union
Rugby league
New Zealand national rugby league team
Soccer
- Chatham Cup competition not held
- Provincial league champions:
- Auckland: Metro College
- Canterbury: Thistle
- Hawke's Bay: Napier HSOB
- Nelson: No competition
- Otago: Mosgiel
- South Canterbury: No competition
- Southland: No competition
- Taranaki: Old Boys
- Waikato: Rotowaro
- Wanganui: No competition
- Wellington: Waterside
Births
- 4 January: Alan Sutherland, rugby player (died 2020)
- 7 February: Witi Ihimaera, author
- 4 March: Brian Turner, sportsman and writer
- 6 March: Kiri Te Kanawa, opera singer
- 8 April: Tariana Turia, politician (died 2025)
- 12 May: Barry Barclay, filmmaker (died 2008)
- 16 June: Robin Morrison, photographer (died 1993)
- 17 July: Mark Burgess, cricketer
- 22 July: Anand Satyanand, Judge, ombudsman and 19th Governor-General of New Zealand
- 29 July: Terrence Jarvis, cricketer
- 17 August: Philip Woollaston, politician
- 26 August: Neroli Fairhall, archer (died 2006)
- 30 August: Alex Wyllie, rugby union player and coach
- 7 October: Jack Body, composer (died 2015)
- 10 November: Andy Leslie, rugby union player and administrator
- 18 November: David O'Sullivan, cricketer
- 28 November: Joanna Orwin, writer
- Noel Anderson, Judge (died 2021)
- Philip Culbertson, theologian
- Keith Locke, environmentalist and politician
- John Wood, diplomat
- J. S. Parker, painter (died 2017)
Deaths
- 18 June Arthur Bignell, businessman, mayor.
- 21 July: John Andrew MacPherson, politician.
- 12 August: James Hargest, National MP, killed while serving with NZ Army as observer with British forces in Normandy.
- 30 August: Thomas William Rhodes, politician.
- 30 October: Haami Tokouru Ratana, politician and Ratana church leader.
- 2 December: Frank Milner, headmaster and educationalist.
- 29 December: John Cobbe, politician.
- 29 December: Henry Holland, mayor of Christchurch.
See also
References
External links