# Public holidays and anniversary dates Official source: https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/public-holidays/public-holidays-and-anniversary-dates Scanned: 2026-06-07T03:31:31.402Z Use this as a current official guidance reference, not as a substitute for legal advice. ## Page Text Home Leave and holidays Public holidays Public holidays and anniversary dates Public holidays Leave and holidays Public holidays Public holidays and anniversary dates Previous years: Public holidays and anniversary dates Managing public holidays as an employer Public holidays rights for employees Transferring a public holiday Alternative holidays When a public holiday falls on a weekend Restricted trading days for shops Working and trading on Easter Sunday Annual holidays Sick leave Bereavement leave Parental leave Family violence leave Jury service leave Employment Relations Education leave Time off to vote Defence force volunteers Other types of leave Everyone Public holidays and anniversary dates Employees have minimum rights that apply to public holidays. An employee is entitled to a paid day off if a public holiday falls on a day they would otherwise be working. The observed date is when employees get the holiday. See the information below for more about actual versus observed dates. 2026 public holiday and anniversary dates Holiday Actual Date Observed date New Year's Day 1 January Thursday 1 January Day after New Year's Day 2 January Friday 2 January Waitangi Day 6 February Friday 6 February Good Friday Varies Friday 3 April Easter Monday Varies Monday 6 April ANZAC Day 25 April Monday 27 April King's Birthday 1st Monday in June Monday 1 June Matariki Varies Friday 10 July Labour Day 4th Monday in October Monday 26 October Christmas Day 25 December Friday 25 December Boxing Day 26 December Monday 28 December NOTE: Each region in New Zealand has its own anniversary day. The dates below may contain unintentional errors. For the most reliable date, please check with your local council. Province Actual date Observed date Auckland 29 January Monday 26 January Taranaki 31 March Monday 9 March Hawke's Bay 1 November Friday 23 October Wellington 22 January Monday 19 January Marlborough 1 November Monday 2 November Nelson 1 February Monday 2 February Canterbury 16 December Friday 13 November Canterbury (South) 16 December Monday 28 September Westland 1 December Monday 30 November Otago 23 March Monday 23 March Southland 17 January Tuesday 7 April Chatham Islands 30 November Monday 30 November More dates Previous years - public holidays and anniversaries School terms and holiday dates – Ministry of Education (external link) Holiday Actual Date Observed date New Year's Day 1 January Friday 1 January Day after New Year's Day 2 January Monday 4 January Waitangi Day 6 February Monday 8 February Good Friday Varies Friday 26 March Easter Monday Varies Monday 29 March ANZAC Day 25 April Monday 26 April King's Birthday 1st Monday in June Monday 7 June Matariki Varies Friday 25 June Labour Day 4th Monday in October Monday 25 October Christmas Day 25 December Monday 27 December Boxing Day 26 December Tuesday 28 December Province Actual date Observed date Auckland 29 January Monday 1 February Taranaki 31 March Monday 8 March Hawke's Bay 1 November Friday 22 October Wellington 22 January Monday 25 January Marlborough 1 November Monday 1 November Nelson 1 February Monday 1 February Canterbury 16 December Friday 12 November Canterbury (South) 16 December Monday 27 September Westland 1 December Monday 29 November Otago 23 March Monday 22 March Southland 17 January Tuesday 30 March Chatham Islands 30 November Monday 29 November Public holidays Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and 2 January holiday These public holidays are observed on the actual day when they fall on a weekday. When they fall on a Saturday/Sunday: If the employee would normally have worked on the Saturday/Sunday, the public holiday is observed on the Saturday/Sunday. If the employee would not normally have worked on the Saturday/Sunday, the public holiday is observed on the following Monday (or in some cases Tuesday). Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day The public holidays for ANZAC Day and Waitangi Day are “Mondayised” (moved to the following Monday) if they fall on a Saturday/Sunday and the employee would not normally have worked on that Saturday/Sunday. Public holidays falling on a weekend Easter Easter dates are confirmed by the Catholic Church. Regional anniversary dates The observed date is when a public holiday is celebrated, which may or may not be the actual anniversary date. See the notes below for more about actual versus observed dates. Provincial anniversary days are generally observed on the Monday nearest to the actual day. However, local custom and historical precedence can lead to observance on other days. Exceptions are listed below (subject to change over time): Taranaki Anniversary: Moves to 2nd Monday in March to avoid Easter. Hawke's Bay Anniversary: Moves to Friday before Labour Day. Marlborough Anniversary: Observed 1st Monday after Labour Day. Canterbury Anniversary: Northern and Central Canterbury areas observe Christchurch Show Day. The definition for the Canterbury Anniversary Day celebration as decided by Christchurch City is the second Friday after the first Tuesday in November each year. South Canterbury observes Dominion Day, the 4th Monday in September. Westland Anniversary: Varies throughout Westland, but Greymouth observes the official day. Otago Anniversary: As there is no easily determined single day of local observance for Otago, the employee and employer should rely on either their employment agreement or their custom and practice. Where there is no clear custom and practice, they should try and agree on how they will observe Anniversary Day. Southland Anniversary: Normally observed on Easter Tuesday. Setting of public holidays The Holidays Act 2003 lists the holidays but does not generally set dates for them. Some holidays are set by legislation (for example, Waitangi Day Act 1976, ANZAC Day Act 1966, Sovereigns Birthday Observance Act 1952). Others are religious holidays (Easter and Christmas). Provincial Anniversary Days are observed locally by custom and practice and are generally prescribed by regional or city councils. These provinces relate to the former provinces of 19th-century New Zealand and are not determined by present-day districts or regions. Waitangi Day Act 1976 - New Zealand Legislation (external link) ANZAC Day Act 1966 - New Zealand Legislation (external link) Sovereigns Birthday Observance Act 1952 - New Zealand Legislation (external link) Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022 - New Zealand Legislation (external link) Published: 10 August 2023 Last modified: 5 January 2026 Written for: Everyone Share this page: Print this page: