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Story: Second World War

VJ Day

Video file

News of Japan's surrender following the dropping of two atom bombs was received in New Zealand at 11 a.m. on 15 August 1945. Sirens sounded immediately, and before long streamers were unfurled, and there were bands playing and people dancing in the streets. This film records some of the celebrations in Wellington and Auckland on that day.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Weekly Review 208. National Film Unit, 1945

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Ian McGibbon, Second World War – Final victory, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/34590/vj-day (accessed 20 June 2026).

Story by Ian McGibbon, published 17 April 2012, updated 1 May 2016.