Public holidays in New Zealand in 2026 include 11 nationwide holiday dates covering New Year, Waitangi Day, Easter, Anzac Day, King's Birthday, Matariki, Labour Day and the Christmas period. New Zealand also observes provincial anniversary days, but these vary by region and are separate from the nationwide holiday schedule.
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Next Public Holiday in New Zealand
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 26, 2026 | Monday | Labour Day | Confirmed |
Public Holidays in New Zealand 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Confirmed |
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Confirmed |
| January 2, 2026 | Friday | Day after New Year's Day | Confirmed |
| January 2, 2026 | Friday | Day after New Year’s Day | Confirmed |
| February 6, 2026 | Friday | Waitangi Day | Confirmed |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Confirmed |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Confirmed |
| April 25, 2026 | Saturday | Anzac Day | Confirmed |
| June 1, 2026 | Monday | King's Birthday | Confirmed |
| June 1, 2026 | Monday | King’s Birthday | Confirmed |
| July 10, 2026 | Friday | Matariki | Confirmed |
| October 26, 2026 | Monday | Labour Day | Confirmed |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Confirmed |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | Boxing Day | Confirmed |
How Public Holidays Work in New Zealand
New Zealand's public-holiday framework is primarily governed by the Holidays Act 2003. The legislation identifies the principal national public holidays and also recognises provincial anniversary days.
Employment New Zealand publishes the official annual schedule showing both actual and observed public-holiday dates. This distinction is important when certain holidays fall on a weekend.
Actual and Observed Public Holiday Dates
In New Zealand, the actual calendar date of a public holiday and the day on which an employee receives the holiday can sometimes be different. This is commonly described as the holiday being “Mondayised” or transferred.
The rule depends on both the holiday and whether the weekend date would otherwise be a working day for the employee. A transferred holiday does not provide two separate public-holiday entitlements for the same event.
Anzac Day in 2026
Anzac Day falls on Saturday, April 25, 2026. If Saturday would otherwise be a working day for an employee, Anzac Day is treated as falling on that Saturday. If Saturday would not otherwise be a working day, the public holiday is treated as falling on Monday, April 27.
The same employee does not receive two Anzac Day public holidays. The transfer provisions determine which day is treated as the public holiday for that employee.
Boxing Day in 2026
Boxing Day falls on Saturday, December 26, 2026. Employment New Zealand lists the observed date as either Saturday, December 26 or Monday, December 28, depending on the employee's normal working days.
Matariki Public Holiday in 2026
Matariki is observed nationwide on Friday, July 10, 2026. The date is prescribed in Schedule 1 of the Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022.
Matariki dates are not calculated annually for publication at short notice. The legislation sets out specific observance dates through 2052, including July 10 for 2026.
Regional Anniversary Days in New Zealand
New Zealand also has provincial anniversary public holidays. These do not share one nationwide date and should not be treated as additional national public holidays.
Employment New Zealand publishes indicative anniversary dates for Auckland, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Westland, Otago, Southland and the Chatham Islands. Local customs can affect when an anniversary day is observed, so Employment New Zealand recommends confirming the applicable date with the relevant local council.
Provincial anniversary days are therefore kept separate from the main nationwide VisaBoards holiday schedule.
Long Weekends in New Zealand in 2026
Several nationwide public holidays create three-day or longer breaks in 2026 for people who normally work Monday to Friday.
- January 1 to January 4: New Year's Day falls on Thursday and the Day after New Year's Day falls on Friday.
- February 6 to February 8: Waitangi Day falls on Friday.
- April 3 to April 6: Good Friday and Easter Monday create the Easter weekend.
- April 25 to April 27: Anzac Day falls on Saturday and is observed on Monday for employees to whom the transfer rule applies.
- May 30 to June 1: King's Birthday falls on Monday, June 1.
- July 10 to July 12: Matariki falls on Friday.
- October 24 to October 26: Labour Day falls on Monday, October 26.
- December 25 to December 28: Christmas Day falls on Friday and Boxing Day falls on Saturday, with Monday observance applying where the statutory transfer rules require it.
These examples assume a standard Monday-to-Friday working pattern. Public-holiday entitlements can differ for employees whose normal working days include weekends.
Are Public Holidays Paid in New Zealand?
An employee is generally entitled to a paid day off when a public holiday falls on a day they would otherwise have worked. The specific entitlement depends on whether the day is an “otherwise working day” for that employee.
Employment New Zealand explains that an employee who works on a public holiday must be paid at least time and a half for the time worked. If the public holiday is also an otherwise working day, the employee is generally entitled to an alternative holiday as well.
Can Employees Work on a Public Holiday?
Employees may work on a public holiday in circumstances permitted by their employment arrangements and the Holidays Act. Working on a public holiday triggers statutory payment rules, including at least time-and-a-half pay for hours worked.
An employee who works on a public holiday that would otherwise have been a working day is generally also entitled to an alternative paid holiday. Employment New Zealand provides detailed guidance on public holiday pay.
School Holidays and Public Holidays in 2026
School terms and school holidays are separate from the general public-holiday calendar. The New Zealand Ministry of Education publishes official term and holiday dates for state and state-integrated schools and kura.
In 2026, Good Friday and Easter Monday fall during the Term 1 school-holiday period. Matariki on July 10 falls during the Term 2 school holidays. The Ministry also records Anzac Day on April 25 with Monday, April 27 as the observed day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nationwide public holiday dates are there in New Zealand in 2026?
The verified VisaBoards nationwide dataset contains 11 public-holiday dates for 2026. Provincial anniversary days are excluded from this count because their dates and geographical coverage vary by region.
What is the next public holiday in New Zealand?
The next public holiday changes throughout the year. The live VisaBoards section near the top of this page displays the upcoming New Zealand public holiday from the current holiday database.
When is Waitangi Day in 2026?
Waitangi Day falls on Friday, February 6, 2026. Because it falls on a weekday in 2026, no weekend transfer is required.
When is Anzac Day in New Zealand in 2026?
Anzac Day falls on Saturday, April 25, 2026. For an employee who would not otherwise work on Saturday, the holiday is observed on Monday, April 27 under New Zealand's public-holiday transfer rules.
When is King's Birthday in New Zealand in 2026?
King's Birthday is observed on Monday, June 1, 2026. The Holidays Act provides for the birthday of the reigning Sovereign to be observed on the first Monday in June.
When is Matariki in 2026?
Matariki is observed on Friday, July 10, 2026. The date is specified by the Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022.
When is Labour Day in New Zealand in 2026?
Labour Day falls on Monday, October 26, 2026. New Zealand observes Labour Day on the fourth Monday in October.
Is Boxing Day Mondayised in 2026?
Boxing Day falls on Saturday, December 26, 2026. For an employee who would not otherwise work on that Saturday, the public holiday is transferred to Monday, December 28. Employees whose normal working pattern includes Saturday may observe the holiday on December 26 instead.
Are provincial anniversary days nationwide holidays?
No. Provincial anniversary days are public holidays associated with particular regions rather than one nationwide date. The applicable observed date should be checked for the employee's region.
Is New Year's Eve a public holiday in New Zealand?
No. December 31 is not one of New Zealand's national public holidays. The New Zealand Government specifically distinguishes New Year's Eve from the statutory New Year's Day holidays.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in New Zealand
- New Zealand Government – Dates for Public Holidays and Anniversary Days: official nationwide 2026 holiday dates and regional anniversary information.
- Employment New Zealand – Public Holidays and Anniversary Dates: official actual and observed dates, including weekend-transfer information.
- New Zealand Legislation – Holidays Act 2003: statutory framework for public holidays, transfers and employee entitlements.
- Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022: official statutory Matariki dates, including July 10, 2026.
- New Zealand Ministry of Education – School Terms and Holiday Dates: official 2026 school calendar and relevant public-holiday observances.
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