This year is the 80th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War

It began with Hitler's invasion of Poland in September 1939, and is generally considered to have ended on 15 August 1945 with the surrender of Japan (2 September is also celebrated in the United States as VJ Day, marking when the surrender documents were signed aboard the USS Missouri). However, New Zealanders had to wait to celebrate the ends of both the European and Pacific conflicts.

The German surrender occurred on the afternoon of 7 May 1945, New Zealand time. The news became known here the following morning, but acting Prime Minister Walter Nash insisted that celebrations should wait until Winston Churchill officially announced peace. Churchill's announcement wasn't heard in New Zealand until 1am on 9 May.

On Tuesday 8 May, when everybody felt like celebrating the end of the war in Europe, the PM told the country by radio that they should all go to work, and that Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) would be on 9 May.

Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) marked the Japanese surrender bringing an end to the Second World War. This news arrived in New Zealand at 11am on 15 August.

Like VE day, the New Zealand authorities sought to control the celebrations, but there were parades, thanksgiving services, bonfires, dances and two public holidays.

This anniversary will be recognised at Anzac Day's Dawn and National Services at Pukeahu National War Memorial.

The King's Letter

The 80th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War is probably the last significant anniversary that will commemorate the service of New Zealanders in the Second World War while there are living veterans.

To acknowledge their service, the Second World War veterans received a letter from King Charles III. The letters were dispatched so that these veterans received them before Anzac Day so that they could've been incorporated into any Anzac Day service that they might attend wherever they are. Veterans' Affairs has 81 clients who are veterans of the Second World War, and they all received a letter. However, there may be other New Zealand veterans who aren't clients of Veterans' Affairs. If so, the veteran or their family or caregiver can request a letter from Veterans' Affairs by emailing veterans@nzdf.mil.nz.

This letter is only for New Zealand veterans of the Second World War and will not be sent to veterans who deployed only with Jayforce or to veterans who served in the Second World War for other nations.