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
Head of State – George VI
Governor-General – Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Cyril Newall GCB OM GCMG CBE AM
Government
The 27th New Zealand Parliament commenced, with the Labour Party in government.
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
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 – Thomas Hislop then Will Appleton
Mayor of Christchurch – Ernest Andrews
Mayor of Dunedin – Andrew Allen then Donald Cameron
Events
21 January – New Zealand and Australia sign the Canberra Pact in which they agree to cooperate on international affairs. 15 March – 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 – 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 – 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 The New Zealand head tax on Chinese immigrants from 1881 (63 years) is repealed.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: :Category:1944 film awards, 1944 in film, List of New Zealand feature films, Cinema of New Zealand, :Category:1944 films
Sport
Archery
National Champions (Postal Shoot) Open: W. Burton (Gisborne) Women: R. Mitchell (Dunedin)
Chess
The 51st National Chess Championship was held in Wellington, and was won by R.G. Wade of Wellington.
Cricket
Horse racing
Harness racing
New Zealand Trotting Cup – Bronze Eagle
Auckland Trotting Cup – Betty Boop
Lawn bowls
The national outdoor lawn bowls championships are held in Dunedin. Men's singles champion – M.J. Squire (Hawera Bowling Club) Men's pair champions – P.H. Edwards, E.W. Travers (skip) (St Kilda Bowling Club) Men's fours champions – W. Chapman, A.E. Seymour, J.A. Whyte, C.G. Spearman (skip) (Christchurch RSA Bowling Club)
Rugby union
Ranfurly Shield: Held by Southland (uncontested due to World War II)
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 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 Noel Anderson, Judge (died 2021) Philip Culbertson, theologian Keith Locke, environmentalist and politician John Wood, diplomat J. S. Parker, painter (died 2017)