Going on a long weekend break? Confused if your kids are going to school? Or just curious why the stores are closed? All you need to know about New Zealand public holidays in 2026 and 2027 is here. Find out about New Zealand national holidays, regional anniversary holidays, and what occurs when there’s an overlap with the weekend.
Next Public Holiday
Matariki — Friday 10 July 2026
(As of June 2026. After that: Labour Day, Monday 26 October 2026.)
2026 NZ Public Holidays
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| 2 January | Friday | Day after New Year’s Day |
| 6 February | Friday | Waitangi Day |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 6 April | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 25 April | Saturday | Anzac Day (observed Monday 27 April) |
| 1 June | Monday | King’s Birthday |
| 10 July | Friday | Matariki |
| 26 October | Monday | Labour Day |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Saturday | Boxing Day (observed Monday 28 December) |
Note on Anzac Day 2026: Anzac Day falls on a Saturday. If you don’t normally work Saturdays, your day off moves to Monday 27 April. If you do normally work Saturdays, you get the holiday on Saturday itself not the Monday as well.
2027 NZ Public Holidays
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | New Year’s Day |
| 2 January | Saturday | Day after New Year’s Day (observed Monday 4 January) |
| 6 February | Saturday | Waitangi Day (observed Monday 8 February) |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 29 March | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 25 April | Sunday | Anzac Day (observed Monday 26 April) |
| 7 June | Monday | King’s Birthday |
| 25 June | Friday | Matariki |
| 25 October | Monday | Labour Day |
| 25 December | Saturday | Christmas Day (observed Monday 27 December) |
| 26 December | Sunday | Boxing Day (observed Tuesday 28 December) |
Note regarding 2027: A big year for Mondayization — Waitangi Day, Anzac Day, and even both Boxing Day and Christmas land on weekend days, hence most people are going to experience their Mondayization.
Anniversary Days in Each Region 2026
Apart from the holidays above, there is one more holiday observed per province in each year. Here, workers in each specific region get their own special holiday rather than the other regional ones.
| Date | Anniversary Day |
|---|---|
| 19 January | Wellington |
| 26 January | Auckland |
| 2 February | Nelson |
| 9 March | Taranaki |
| 23 March | Otago |
| 7 April | Southland (Easter Tuesday) |
| 28 September | South Canterbury |
| 23 October | Hawke’s Bay |
| 2 November | Marlborough |
| 13 November | Canterbury |
| 30 November | Chatham Islands |
| 30 November | Westland |
Canterbury note: The anniversary for Canterbury is listed as the Christchurch Show Day – the second Friday after the first Tuesday of November. This refers to the Canterbury A&P Show.
What Happens When a Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
This one confuses many, so here’s what it means in simple English.
Mondayisation is the method NZ applies to ensure that employees who usually don’t work on weekends won’t lose their day off even if the holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday.
And how it’s done:
- In case your public holiday comes out on Saturday or Sunday, and you do not work on those days, then your public holiday will be observed on the following Monday (or even Tuesday, if Monday has been used up).
- In case your public holiday comes out on Saturday or Sunday, but you normally work on those days, then the public holiday will be observed on the actual date only.
For example, Anzac Day in 2026 falls on Saturday, 25 April. If you work from Monday to Friday, your public holiday occurs on Monday, 27 April. If you are working Saturday retail, you will be granted a public holiday on Saturday, 25 April without the right to take another day off.
Waitangi Day and Anzac Day were successfully fully Mondayised since 2014. Christmas Day and New Year have other conditions because these holidays are consecutive and should shift to Tuesday when falling on Monday.
Public Holiday Pay Rights
If you work on a public holiday in New Zealand, you’re entitled to:
- Time and a half for the hours worked
- An alternative holiday (day in lieu) if the day would normally have been a working day for you
This is relevant for all employees governed by the Holidays Act 2003 regardless of whether they are permanent, part-time, or casual workers; although the extent of its relevance depends on each individual’s employment contract.
For the full detail, Employment New Zealand has a clear guide — worth bookmarking if you’re an employer or work irregular hours.
Restricted Trading Days
Four days have special rules for shops and businesses:
- Good Friday — most shops must close
- Easter Sunday — most shops must close; employees can’t be required to work
- Christmas Day — most shops must close
- Anzac Day — shops must stay closed until 1pm
Dairies, service stations, pharmacies, restaurants, and cafes are generally exempt. Garden centres and specialty retailers can apply to their local council for an exemption.
FAQs
Will I receive leave in case of a public holiday while working?
Yes — if that public holiday is going to be your usual working day, you will get paid time-and-a-half plus an alternative holiday.
But what about me? Am I entitled to receive any benefit if I am a casual employee?
Yes, however, this will depend on your work schedule. If that day was your working day, you will receive public holiday benefits. Refer to Employment New Zealand for more information.
Are regional anniversary days observed throughout the region?
The answer lies in the place of employment, rather than in one’s residency. For example, if you reside in Wellington but work in Auckland, you will be observing Auckland Anniversary Day.
Is Matariki celebrated on the same day?
No, Matariki will fall on a certain Friday depending on the Māori Lunar Calendar. In 2026, it will be on 10 July, and in 2027, it will be on 25 June.
Any long weekends in the near future in 2026?
Yes, Good Friday through Easter Monday offers a weekend stretch over four days in April, along with Anzac Day, which falls on Monday 27 April. The King’s Birthday holiday (1 June) and Matariki (10 July) fall on either a Friday or a Monday, for three days off.
Planning around school holidays too? Check out our NZ School Holidays 2026–2027 page.