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Story: Public holidays

VE Day rejoicing

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The alcohol flowed freely on VE (Victory in Europe) Day, 9 May 1945, as this film of street rejoicing shows. Although formal speeches, services and parades were also held, many people preferred more spontaneous celebrations.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Weekly Review 195. 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

Nancy Swarbrick, Public holidays – Celebrating imperial ties, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/32470/ve-day-rejoicing (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 14 March 2012.