New Zealand has eleven public holidays plus a regional anniversary day for each province. Matariki, the Māori new year, joined the list in 2022 and moves each year with the star cluster's rising.

How people take the days

Mondayisation means holidays falling on a weekend shift to the following working day for those who don't normally work weekends. The Christmas to late January stretch is the main shutdown.

If you're visiting

Trading is restricted on three and a half days a year — Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and Anzac morning — when most shops must legally close. Everything else trades with surcharges.

If you live here

Working a public holiday earns time and a half plus an alternative day off if it was a normal working day for you. Annual leave is four weeks statutory.

What these days actually mean

Observance, business closures and transport impact for the next few dates.

Canterbury (South) Anniversary Day

28 Sep 2026

Regional

Observance: Officially recognised as a public holiday, so most people have the day off work. It applies only in certain regions rather than nationwide.
Business: Expect offices, banks and the majority of shops to be closed.
Transport: Public transport usually runs a Sunday or holiday timetable.

General guidance based on this day's official classification, not country-specific reporting.

Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day

23 Oct 2026

Regional

Observance: Officially recognised as a public holiday, so most people have the day off work. It applies only in certain regions rather than nationwide.
Business: Expect offices, banks and the majority of shops to be closed.
Transport: Public transport usually runs a Sunday or holiday timetable.

General guidance based on this day's official classification, not country-specific reporting.

Labour Day

26 Oct 2026

Public

Observance: International Workers' Day. Marches and union rallies in many cities, a straightforward day off in others.
Business: Offices, banks and most shops closed. Rallies can close central streets.
Transport: Reduced services; city-centre routes may be diverted around demonstrations.

Marlborough Anniversary Day

2 Nov 2026

Regional

Observance: Officially recognised as a public holiday, so most people have the day off work. It applies only in certain regions rather than nationwide.
Business: Expect offices, banks and the majority of shops to be closed.
Transport: Public transport usually runs a Sunday or holiday timetable.

General guidance based on this day's official classification, not country-specific reporting.

NZNew Zealand · 2026

How the holiday year works in New Zealand

The calendar

How people take the days

If you're visiting

If you live here

What these days actually mean

Canterbury (South) Anniversary Day

Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day

Labour Day

Marlborough Anniversary Day

New Zealand · 2026