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Public holidays in New Zealand

11 days in 2026 · 11 in 2027

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Next public holiday

Labour Day

After it: Christmas Day, Friday 25 December

Monday, 26 October 2026

New Zealand has 11 national public holidays, and every worker also gets the anniversary day of the old province where they work, which brings the total under the Holidays Act 2003 to 12. In 2026 all 11 national days off fall on weekdays: Anzac Day is on Saturday 25 April and Boxing Day on Saturday 26 December, and both days off move to the Monday after, 27 April and 28 December.

Matariki is the holiday that moves with the Māori lunar calendar, the maramataka. It is set on the Friday closest to the Tangaroa period of the lunar month and was first kept as a public holiday in 2022. In 2026 it is kept on Friday 10 July, and in 2027 on Friday 25 June.

The anniversary days are older than the national calendar. They began as early as 1843 to mark the arrival of the first settlers in each province, they survived the abolition of the provinces in 1876, and each region still keeps its own, from Wellington's in January to Westland's at the end of November.

Days off in 2026
11Nationwide public holidays
On a weekday
11Monday to Friday
On a weekend
0Saturday or Sunday
Long weekends
8three days off or more

2026

Public holidays in New Zealand in 2026

  1. 1 January: New Year's DayMoved to the Monday when it falls on a weekend. Many workplaces close for the Christmas and New Year break around it.Thursday
  2. 2 January: Day after New Year's DayA second day off for the new year. If it falls on a Saturday it moves to Monday, and on a Sunday to Tuesday, so in 2027 it is kept on Monday 4 January.FridayDate moves
  3. 6 February: Waitangi DayThe national day, marking the first signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February 1840. Since 2013 the day off moves to Monday when 6 February falls on a weekend, as it does in 2027.FridayDate moves
  4. 3 April: Good FridayOne of the restricted trading days: most shops, supermarkets included, must close.FridayDate moves
  5. 6 April: Easter MondayA day off without trading restrictions. Easter Sunday, the day before, is not a public holiday but is a restricted trading day.MondayDate moves
  6. 27 April: Anzac DayThe national day for commemorating those who have served the country in war. Most shops may not open until 1 pm. Since 2013 the day off moves to Monday when 25 April falls on a weekend, as it does in 2026.MondayDate moves
  7. 1 June: King's BirthdayThe Sovereign's official birthday, on the first Monday in June.MondayDate moves
  8. 10 July: MatarikiAlways on a Friday, its date set each year by the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar. A public holiday since 2022.FridayDate moves
  9. 26 October: Labour DayOn the fourth Monday in October.MondayDate moves
  10. 25 December: Christmas DayA restricted trading day. Christmas 2027 is a Saturday, so the day off moves to Monday 27 December.FridayDate moves
  11. 28 December: Boxing DayMoves to Monday when it falls on a Saturday, as in 2026, and to Tuesday when it falls on a Sunday, as in 2027.Monday

Long weekends

Long weekends in New Zealand in 2026

Runs of three days or more off, with weekends counted, and the working days that join a holiday to a weekend when taken as leave.

  • 4daysThu 1 Jan to Sun 4 JanNew Year's Day, Day after New Year's Day
  • 3daysFri 6 Feb to Sun 8 FebWaitangi Day
  • 4daysFri 3 Apr to Mon 6 AprGood Friday, Easter Monday
  • 3daysSat 25 Apr to Mon 27 AprAnzac Day
  • 3daysSat 30 May to Mon 1 JunKing's Birthday
  • 3daysFri 10 Jul to Sun 12 JulMatariki
  • 3daysSat 24 Oct to Mon 26 OctLabour Day
  • 4daysFri 25 Dec to Mon 28 DecChristmas Day, Boxing Day

2027

Public holidays in New Zealand in 2027

  1. 1 January: New Year's DayFriday
  2. 4 January: Day after New Year's DayMondayDate moves
  3. 8 February: Waitangi DayMondayDate moves
  4. 26 March: Good FridayFridayDate moves
  5. 29 March: Easter MondayMondayDate moves
  6. 26 April: Anzac DayMondayDate moves
  7. 7 June: King's BirthdayMondayDate moves
  8. 25 June: MatarikiFridayDate moves
  9. 25 October: Labour DayMondayDate moves
  10. 27 December: Christmas DayMondayDate moves
  11. 28 December: Boxing DayTuesday

Regional

Holidays kept in parts of New Zealand

Public holidays in 2026 that are days off only in the regions listed, by their ISO 3166-2 codes.

  1. 19 January: Wellington Anniversary DayNZ-WGN · NZ-MWTMarks 22 January, kept on the nearest Monday, in Wellington, Manawatū and Whanganui.MondayDate moves
  2. 26 January: Auckland Anniversary DayAuckland/Northland Anniversary DayNZ-AUK · NZ-NTL · NZ-WKO · NZ-GIS · NZ-BOPMarks 29 January, kept on the nearest Monday across Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.MondayDate moves
  3. 2 February: Nelson Anniversary DayNZ-NSNMarks 1 February, kept on the nearest Monday in Nelson, Tasman and Buller.MondayDate moves
  4. 9 March: Taranaki Anniversary DayNZ-TKIMarks 31 March, but is kept on the second Monday in March to keep clear of Easter.MondayDate moves
  5. 23 March: Otago Anniversary DayNZ-OTAMarks 23 March, kept on the nearest Monday in Otago, including Dunedin and Queenstown.MondayDate moves
  6. 7 April: Southland Anniversary DayNZ-STLKept on Easter Tuesday, the day after Easter Monday, which gives Southland a five-day Easter break.TuesdayDate moves
  7. 28 September: Canterbury (South) Anniversary DayDominion DayNZ-CANSouth Canterbury's anniversary day, kept on the fourth Monday in September, the old Dominion Day.MondayDate moves
  8. 23 October: Hawke's Bay Anniversary DayNZ-HKBMarks 1 November, kept on the Friday before Labour Day.FridayDate moves
  9. 2 November: Marlborough Anniversary DayNZ-MBHMarks 1 November, kept on the first Monday after Labour Day.MondayDate moves
  10. 13 November: Canterbury Anniversary DayCanterbury (North & Central) Anniversary DayNZ-CANChristchurch Show Day, the second Friday after the first Tuesday in November, timed to the Canterbury A&P Show.FridayDate moves
  11. 30 November: Chatham Islands Anniversary DayNZ-CITMarks 30 November, kept on the nearest Monday.MondayDate moves
  12. 30 November: Westland Anniversary DayNZ-WTCMarks 1 December, kept on the nearest Monday in Greymouth; other parts of Westland vary.MondayDate moves

A holiday that falls on a weekend is Mondayised: for an employee who does not work weekends, the day off moves to the following Monday, or to the Tuesday where the Monday is already a holiday. Christmas Day and New Year's Day have always been treated this way, and Waitangi Day and Anzac Day since 2013. The two anniversaries are still commemorated on their own dates, 6 February and 25 April.

Anyone who works on a public holiday is paid time and a half and, if it would have been a normal working day, gets an alternative day off in lieu.

On the restricted trading days, Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Anzac Day until 1 pm, generally only dairies, petrol stations, pharmacies, restaurants, cafés and shops at airports and stations may open. Since 2016 councils have been able to set their own Easter Sunday trading rules.

New Year's Eve is widely celebrated but is not a public holiday. The days from 25 December to 15 January are not counted as working days for official government purposes, and many businesses shut over that period. A one-off national holiday, Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day, was held on 26 September 2022.

Common questions

Questions about public holidays in New Zealand

How many public holidays does New Zealand have?

Eleven national ones, and one regional anniversary day for each worker, which makes 12 under the Holidays Act 2003. In 2026 the 11 national days off all fall on weekdays, because Anzac Day on Saturday 25 April and Boxing Day on Saturday 26 December are both moved to the following Monday. Workers also get at least four weeks of annual leave, the rule since 1 April 2007.

When is Matariki in 2026 and 2027?

Friday 10 July 2026 and Friday 25 June 2027. The date follows the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar: the holiday is set on the Friday closest to the Tangaroa period of the lunar month in which Matariki rises, so it moves between June and July. It was first kept as a public holiday in 2022, after the government announced it in February 2021.

What is Mondayisation?

The rule that moves a public holiday falling on a Saturday or Sunday to a weekday for people who do not work weekends. Christmas Day and New Year's Day have always been Mondayised; Waitangi Day and Anzac Day joined them in 2013. In 2027 Waitangi Day falls on Saturday 6 February, so the day off is Monday 8 February.

Which anniversary day applies in Auckland and Wellington?

Auckland's anniversary marks 29 January and covers Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne as well; it is kept on Monday 26 January 2026 and Monday 1 February 2027. Wellington's marks 22 January and also covers Manawatū and Whanganui, kept on Monday 19 January 2026 and Monday 25 January 2027. Councils set the days by local custom, and the boundaries follow the old provinces.

Are shops open on Easter Sunday in New Zealand?

Mostly not, although Easter Sunday is not a public holiday. It is one of the restricted trading days with Good Friday, Christmas Day and the morning of Anzac Day, when generally only dairies, petrol stations, pharmacies, cafés and restaurants may open. Since 2016 councils can allow Easter Sunday trading in their own area, and a few places, among them Queenstown, Picton and Paihia, hold older exemptions.

Is New Year's Eve a public holiday in New Zealand?

No. It is widely celebrated but stays a working day; the holidays are New Year's Day and the day after. In 2027 New Year's Day is Friday 1 January and the second day off moves from Saturday 2 January to Monday 4 January.

How are workers paid on a public holiday?

At time and a half. If the holiday would otherwise have been a normal working day for them, they also receive an alternative holiday, a day off in lieu, paid at their relevant daily pay. An employee who usually works weekends takes a weekend holiday on the day itself rather than on the Mondayised date.

Dates from Nager.Date, read 2026-10-03. The page counts from Saturday, 3 October 2026, the day it was built.