New Zealand’s representative signed last among the Allied signatories at Japan’s 1945 surrender ceremony.
Air Vice-Marshal Leonard M. Isitt signed for New Zealand at 9:22 a.m. on September 2, 1945. His signature followed those of representatives from the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, and the Netherlands.
The signing order reflected the Allied powers represented at the ceremony rather than a ranking of military contribution. Douglas MacArthur signed first for the Allied powers, followed by Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz for the United States. The Japanese officials had signed before the Allied representatives began adding their signatures.
New Zealand had fought throughout the Pacific War and had contributed naval, air, and ground forces to Allied operations. Isitt’s signature helped give the ceremony a multinational character, showing that Japan’s surrender concerned the wider Allied coalition rather than the United States alone. The ceremony ended at about 9:25 a.m.