NZ public holidays, school terms and long weekends
See what is coming up in your region: public holidays, your anniversary day, long weekends and school terms, for 2026 and 2027.
Checked 2 October 2026 Not sure where to start? Tell us what is going on and we will point you to the right toolWhat next?
NZ public holidays 2026 and 2027
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu 1 Jan | Fri 1 Jan |
| Day after New Year's Day | Fri 2 Jan | Sat 2 Jan, moves to Mon 4 Jan |
| Waitangi Day | Fri 6 Feb | Sat 6 Feb, moves to Mon 8 Feb |
| Good Friday | Fri 3 Apr | Fri 26 Mar |
| Easter Monday | Mon 6 Apr | Mon 29 Mar |
| Anzac Day | Sat 25 Apr, moves to Mon 27 Apr | Sun 25 Apr, moves to Mon 26 Apr |
| King's Birthday | Mon 1 Jun | Mon 7 Jun |
| Matariki | Fri 10 Jul | Fri 25 Jun |
| Labour Day | Mon 26 Oct | Mon 25 Oct |
| Christmas Day | Fri 25 Dec | Sat 25 Dec, moves to Mon 27 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Sat 26 Dec, moves to Mon 28 Dec | Sun 26 Dec, moves to Tue 28 Dec |
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, it moves to the next working day if you do not normally work that day. Dates from Employment New Zealand.
Regional anniversary days
On top of the national holidays, each region has its own anniversary day. If you work there, it counts as a public holiday for you.
| Region | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Mon 26 Jan | Mon 1 Feb |
| Wellington | Mon 19 Jan | Mon 25 Jan |
| Nelson | Mon 2 Feb | Mon 1 Feb |
| Taranaki | Mon 9 Mar | Mon 8 Mar |
| Otago | Mon 23 Mar | Mon 22 Mar |
| Southland | Tue 7 Apr | Tue 30 Mar |
| South Canterbury | Mon 28 Sep | Mon 27 Sep |
| Hawke's Bay | Fri 23 Oct | Fri 22 Oct |
| Marlborough | Mon 2 Nov | Mon 1 Nov |
| Canterbury | Fri 13 Nov | Fri 12 Nov |
| Westland | Mon 30 Nov | Mon 29 Nov |
| Chatham Islands | Mon 30 Nov | Mon 29 Nov |
NZ school terms 2026 and 2027
| Term | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Starts between Mon 26 Jan and Mon 9 Feb. Ends Thu 2 Apr | Starts between Thu 28 Jan and Wed 3 Feb. Ends Fri 9 Apr |
| Term 2 | Mon 20 Apr to Fri 3 Jul | Tue 27 Apr to Fri 2 Jul |
| Term 3 | Mon 20 Jul to Fri 25 Sep | Mon 19 Jul to Fri 24 Sep |
| Term 4 | Mon 12 Oct to no later than Fri 18 Dec | Mon 11 Oct to no later than Fri 17 Dec |
Terms 2 and 3 are the same for every state and state-integrated school. Term 1 start dates and Term 4 end dates vary school by school within the ranges above, so check with your own school. The 2027 Term 1 range was tightened in early 2026, so any older calendar that says Thursday 4 February is out of date.
The school holidays in between
| Break | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn (after Term 1) | Fri 3 Apr to Sun 19 Apr | Sat 10 Apr to Mon 26 Apr |
| Winter (after Term 2) | Sat 4 Jul to Sun 19 Jul | Sat 3 Jul to Sun 18 Jul |
| Spring (after Term 3) | Sat 26 Sep to Sun 11 Oct | Sat 25 Sep to Sun 10 Oct |
| Summer (after Term 4) | Mid-December to late January | Mid-December to late January |
Long weekends coming up
In 2026 the long weekends are Waitangi Day (Fri 6 Feb), Easter (Fri 3 to Mon 6 Apr), King's Birthday (Mon 1 Jun), Matariki (Fri 10 Jul), Labour Day (Mon 26 Oct), and Christmas, where Friday 25 Dec gives most people a long weekend and Monday 28 Dec is Boxing Day for those who do not work Saturdays. Anzac Day falls on a Saturday, so most people get Monday 27 Apr off.
Matariki moves each year. It is Friday 10 July in 2026 and Friday 25 June in 2027.
Working on a public holiday?
You get at least time and a half for the hours you work, and an alternative holiday if it would normally have been a working day for you. Use the public holiday pay calculator to work out what you are owed.
Questions people ask
When is the next public holiday in NZ?
Use the tool above. Pick your region and it shows the next national holiday and your regional anniversary day. In 2026 the last two national holidays are Labour Day on Monday 26 October and Christmas Day on Friday 25 December.
When is Matariki in 2026 and 2027?
Friday 10 July 2026 and Friday 25 June 2027.
What are the NZ school term dates for 2026?
Term 1 starts between 26 January and 9 February and ends 2 April. Term 2 runs 20 April to 3 July. Term 3 runs 20 July to 25 September. Term 4 starts 12 October and ends no later than 18 December.
What are the NZ school term dates for 2027?
Term 1 starts between 28 January and 3 February and ends 9 April. Term 2 runs 27 April to 2 July. Term 3 runs 19 July to 24 September. Term 4 starts 11 October and ends no later than 17 December.
What happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend?
If you do not normally work that day, the holiday moves to the next working day. This is often called Mondayisation. You and your employer can also agree to move it to a different day.
Do all schools have the same Term 1 and Term 4 dates?
No. Terms 2 and 3 are set nationally, but Term 1 start dates and Term 4 end dates vary by school within a set range, so check with your school.
What is my regional anniversary day?
Each region has its own. For example, in 2026 Auckland's is Monday 26 January and Canterbury's is Friday 13 November. The tool above has your region.
One short email: the number that matters, the catch, and how sure we are.
Sign up (coming soon)More free NZ tools
Sources: Employment NZ: public holidays and anniversary dates, NZ Gazette: 2025 and 2026 school term dates, NZ Gazette: 2027 and 2028 school term dates, Ministry of Education: revision of 2027 Term 1 dates, Ministry of Education: school terms and holiday dates.