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Public holidays and anniversary dates

New Zealand public holiday and anniversary dates from 2017 - 2020.

The following dates have been put together in good faith from information provided; we can’t guarantee accuracy.

You can get school holiday dates from the Ministry of Education (external link) .

Public holiday dates

 Actual dateObserved date
2017201820192020
New Year's Day 1 January Sunday 1 January or Tuesday 3 January Monday 1 January Tuesday 1 January

Wednesday 1 January
Day after New Year's Day 2 January Monday 2 January Tuesday 2 January Wednesday 2 January

Thursday 2 January
Waitangi Day 6 February Monday 6 February Tuesday 6 February Wednesday 6 February

Thursday 6 February
Good Friday varies Friday 14 April Friday 30 March Friday 19 April

Friday 10 April
Easter Monday varies Monday 17 April Monday 2 April Monday 22 April

Monday 13 April
ANZAC Day 25 April Tuesday 25 April Wednesday 25 April Thursday 25 April

Saturday 25 April or Monday 27 April
Queen's Birthday 1st Monday
in June		 Monday 5 June Monday 4 June Monday 3 June

Monday 1 June
Labour Day 4th Monday
in October		 Monday 23 October Monday 22 October Monday 28 October

Monday 26 October
Christmas Day 25 December Monday 25 December Tuesday 25 December Wednesday 25 December

Friday 25 December
Boxing Day 26 December Tuesday 26 December Wednesday 26 December Thursday 26 December

Saturday 26 December or Monday 28 December

Anniversary dates

ProvinceActual dateObserved date
2017201820192020
Auckland 29 January Monday 30 January Monday 29 January Monday 28 January

Monday 27 January
Taranaki 31 March Monday 13 March Monday 12 March Monday 11 March

Monday 9 March
Hawke's Bay 1 November Friday 20 October Friday 19 October Friday  25 October

Friday 23 October
Wellington 22 January Monday 23 January Monday 22 January Monday 21 January

Monday 20 January
Marlborough 1 November Monday 30 October Monday 29 October Monday 4 November

Monday 2 November
Nelson 1 February Monday 30 January Monday 29 January Monday 4  February

Monday 3 February
Canterbury 16 December Friday 17 November Friday 16 November Friday 15 November

Friday 13 November
Canterbury (South) 16 December Monday 25 September Monday 24 September Monday 23 September

Monday 28 September
Westland 1 December Monday 4 December Monday 3 December Monday 2 December

Monday 30 November
Otago 23 March Monday 20 March Monday 26 March Monday 25 March

Monday 23 March
Southland 17 January Tuesday 18 April Tuesday 3 April Tuesday 23 April

Tuesday 14 April
Chatham Islands 30 November Monday 27 November Monday 3 December Monday 2 December

Monday 30 November

Public holiday notes

Public holidayNotes
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day & 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/Tuesday
*Waitangi and ANZAC days From 1 January 2014 the public holiday for ANZAC Day and Waitangi Day are “mondayised” if they fall on a Saturday or Sunday and the employee would not normally have worked on that Saturday or Sunday.
Easter Easter dates confirmed by Catholic Church.

 

Anniversary day notes

Provincial Anniversary days are generally observed on the Monday nearest to the actual day with exceptions listed below.

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 & 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 then the parties should rely on either their employment agreement or their own custom and practice. Where there is no clear custom and practice then the parties should seek to find an agreement on how they will observe Anniversary Day. If parties require help to reach agreement on this matter in their workplace, they can seek assistance from the Ministry's Employment Mediation Service. If they are unhappy with how this matter has been handled in their workplace, or they are unable to reach a settlement via mediation, they can then seek assistance from the Employment Relations Authority.
Southland Anniversary In December 2011 the three southern Mayors decided Southland Anniversary Day will be celebrated 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 (eg Waitangi Day Act 1976, ANZAC Day Act 1966, Sovereigns Birthday Observance Act 1952), while 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. You can confirm dates with organisations such as church dioceses, local city and provincial councils, other government departments and business organisations. These provinces relate to the former Provinces of 19th Century New Zealand and are not related to or determined by present-day Districts or Regions.

iCalendar feeds

New Zealand public holiday dates in iCalendar format.

Public holiday and anniversary dates for previous years

New Zealand public holiday and anniversary dates for 2010 – 2016.

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Please note that this content will change over time and may be out of date.

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