Public Holidays in New Zealand
Statutory public holidays in New Zealand, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
New Zealand at a glance
New Zealand has eleven public holidays nationwide, and regions add their own anniversary days. Waitangi Day on 6 February and Anzac Day on 25 April are the national dates.
Matariki, the Maori new year, was added as a public holiday in 2022 and falls in midwinter, moving each year.
New Zealand public holidays 2026
New Zealand has 13 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Day after New Year's Day | Jan 2Fri | National |
| Waitangi Day | Feb 6Fri | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Anzac Day | Apr 25Sat | National |
| Anzac Day (observed) | Apr 27Mon | Substitute |
| King's Birthday | Jun 1Mon | National |
| Matariki | Jul 10Fri | National |
| Labour Day | Oct 26Mon | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
| Boxing Day | Dec 26Sat | National |
Showing 12 of 13 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in New Zealand
The urban centres that anchor most trips to New Zealand.
Wellington
A windy capital of a harbour, wooden villas and a compact cultural centre.
Auckland
A city built between two harbours, of volcanoes, islands and sailboats.
Christchurch
A city rebuilding after earthquakes, with gardens and an English feel.
Queenstown
A town on a lake beneath the Remarkables, the adventure capital.
Rotorua
A city of geysers, boiling mud and Maori cultural performances.
Dunedin
A Scottish city of Victorian stone, a station and wildlife nearby.
Top attractions in New Zealand
The places that draw most visitors to New Zealand.
Fiordland National Park
A fiord landscape of granite cliffs, waterfalls and Milford Sound.
Milford Sound
A fiord of sheer walls and waterfalls, often called the eighth wonder.
Tongariro National Park
Volcanic peaks, emerald lakes and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Rotorua Geothermal
Geysers, silica terraces and boiling pools on the North Island.
Aoraki / Mount Cook
The highest peak and the Southern Alps of glaciers and blue ice.
Waitomo Caves
Limestone caves lit by glowworm constellations, toured by boat.
Festivals, food and getting around New Zealand
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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Day after New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 2
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Wellington Anniversary Day
Falls on Jan 19
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Northland Anniversary Day
Falls on Jan 26
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Auckland Anniversary Day
Falls on Jan 26
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Nelson Anniversary Day
Falls on Feb 2
Food & drink
Getting around
Domestic flights and the inter-island ferry link the country; driving is the best way to see the regions.
Travelling around New Zealand’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in New Zealand tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
New Zealand's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
New Zealand public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does New Zealand have?
New Zealand has 13 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for New Zealand is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are New Zealand's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, New Zealand typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in New Zealand?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for New Zealand?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in New Zealand
State and state-integrated schools follow a four-term year running January to December. Terms 2 and 3 are fixed; each school chooses its own start and end within the Ministry window.
2026
| Region | Holiday | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National | Term 1 holiday | 3 Apr 2026 | 19 Apr 2026 | official page |
| National | Term 2 holiday (winter) | 4 Jul 2026 | 19 Jul 2026 | official page |
| National | Term 3 holiday (spring) | 26 Sep 2026 | 11 Oct 2026 | official page |
| National | Summer holidaysRuns 5-6 weeks until Term 1 2027 starts between 28 January and 3 February. | 19 Dec 2026 | 31 Jan 2027 | official page |
2027
| Region | Holiday | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National | Term 1 holiday | 10 Apr 2027 | 26 Apr 2027 | official page |
| National | Term 2 holiday (winter) | 3 Jul 2027 | 18 Jul 2027 | official page |
| National | Term 3 holiday (spring) | 25 Sep 2027 | 10 Oct 2027 | official page |
| National | Summer holidaysRuns 5-6 weeks until Term 1 2028. | 18 Dec 2027 | 30 Jan 2028 | official page |
Official sources: Ministry of Education - school terms and holiday dates (checked 10 Sep 2026)
School term dates in New Zealand
Term dates below are the periods when classes are in session.
2026
| Region | Term | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National | Term 1Each school starts between 26 January and 9 February 2026. | 26 Jan 2026 | 2 Apr 2026 | official page |
| National | Term 2 | 20 Apr 2026 | 3 Jul 2026 | official page |
| National | Term 3 | 20 Jul 2026 | 25 Sep 2026 | official page |
| National | Term 4Ends no later than 18 December 2026. | 12 Oct 2026 | 18 Dec 2026 | official page |
2027
| Region | Term | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National | Term 1Each school starts between 28 January and 3 February 2027. | 28 Jan 2027 | 9 Apr 2027 | official page |
| National | Term 2 | 27 Apr 2027 | 2 Jul 2027 | official page |
| National | Term 3 | 19 Jul 2027 | 24 Sep 2027 | official page |
| National | Term 4Ends no later than 17 December 2027. | 11 Oct 2027 | 17 Dec 2027 | official page |
Official sources: Ministry of Education - school terms and holiday dates (checked 10 Sep 2026)
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.