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Public holidays and anniversary dates

Employees have minimum rights that apply to public holidays.

Public holidays and anniversary dates

An employee is entitled to a paid day off if a public holiday falls on a day they would otherwise be working.

Public holiday dates

The observed date is when employees get the holiday. See the information below for more about actual versus observed dates.

2024

Holiday Actual Date Observed date
New Year's Day 1 January

Monday 1 January

Day after New Year's Day 2 January Tuesday 2 January
Waitangi Day 6 February Tuesday 6 February

Good Friday

Varies Friday 29 March
Easter Monday Varies Monday 1 April
ANZAC Day 25 April Thursday 25 April
King's Birthday 1st Monday in June Monday 3 June
Matariki Varies Friday 28 June

Labour Day

4th Monday in October Monday 28 October
Christmas Day 25 December Wednesday 25 December
Boxing Day 26 December Thursday 26 December

2025

Holiday Actual Date Observed date
New Year's Day 1 January Wednesday 1 January
Day after New Year's Day 2 January Thursday 2 January
Waitangi Day 6 February Thursday 6 February

Good Friday

Varies Friday 18 April
Easter Monday Varies Monday 21 April
ANZAC Day 25 April Friday 25 April
King's Birthday 1st Monday in June Monday 2 June
Matariki Varies Friday 20 June

Labour Day

4th Monday in October Monday 27 October
Christmas Day 25 December Thursday 25 December
Boxing Day 26 December Friday 26 December

More dates:

Previous years – public holidays and anniversaries

School holiday dates – Ministry of Education(external link)

New Zealand public holidays and anniversaries calendar [ICS, 16 KB]

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.

2024

Province Actual date Observed date
Auckland

29 January

Monday 29 January
Taranaki 31 March Monday 11 March
Hawke's Bay 1 November Friday 25 October
Wellington 22 January Monday 22 January
Marlborough  1 November Friday 4 November
Nelson 1 February Monday 29 January
Canterbury 16 December Friday 15 November
Canterbury (South) 16 December Monday 23 September
Westland 1 December Monday 2 December
Otago 23 March Monday 25 March
Southland 17 January Tuesday 2 April
Chatham Islands 30 November Monday 2 December

2025

Province Actual date Observed date
Auckland

29 January

Monday 27 January
Taranaki 31 March Monday 10 March
Hawke's Bay 1 November Friday 24 October
Wellington 22 January Monday 20 January
Marlborough  1 November Monday 3 November
Nelson 1 February Monday 3 February
Canterbury 16 December Friday 14 November
Canterbury (South) 16 December Monday 22 September
Westland 1 December Monday 1 December
Otago 23 March Monday 24 March
Southland 17 January Tuesday 22 April
Chatham Islands 30 November Monday 1 December

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)

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