School holidays in New Zealand, 2026
Term breaks region by region, taken from the published education calendars. Schools add their own staff-training and free-choice days on top, so confirm the exact first and last day with your school.
School holiday dates 2026
These are the Ministry of Education’s published between-term vacation dates for state schools, kura and state-integrated schools, inclusive of the first and last day off. In 2027, Easter falls during Term 1, not in the April vacation: Good Friday, Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday remain school holidays. Schools select their own year-opening and closing dates within Ministry limits, so no single summer range is shown. Private schools and early-childhood services can follow different calendars; check your school for teacher-only days and summer dates.
State schools, kura and state-integrated schools
Term 1 holidays
Includes Good Friday, Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday.
Starts: 3 Apr 2026
Ends: 19 Apr 2026
17 days
Term 2 holidays
Includes Matariki on 10 July.
Starts: 4 Jul 2026
Ends: 19 Jul 2026
16 days
Term 3 holidays
Starts: 26 Sep 2026
Ends: 11 Oct 2026
16 days
Dates published by: New Zealand Ministry of Education. Official source
Public holidays that close schools anyway
New Year's Day
Nationwide
Day after New Year's Day
Nationwide
Wellington Anniversary Day
Regional · NZ-WGN, NZ-MWT
Auckland/Northland Anniversary Day
Auckland Anniversary Day · Regional · NZ-AUK, NZ-NTL, NZ-WKO, NZ-GIS, NZ-BOP
Nelson Anniversary Day
Regional · NZ-NSN
Waitangi Day
Nationwide
Taranaki Anniversary Day
Regional · NZ-TKI
Otago Anniversary Day
Regional · NZ-OTA
Good Friday
Nationwide
Easter Monday
Nationwide
Southland Anniversary Day
Regional · NZ-STL
Anzac Day
Nationwide
King's Birthday
Nationwide
Matariki
Nationwide
Dominion Day
Canterbury (South) Anniversary Day · Regional · NZ-CAN
Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day
Regional · NZ-HKB
Labour Day
Nationwide
Marlborough Anniversary Day
Regional · NZ-MBH
Canterbury (North & Central) Anniversary Day
Canterbury Anniversary Day · Regional · NZ-CAN
Chatham Islands Anniversary Day
Regional · NZ-CIT
Westland Anniversary Day
Regional · NZ-WTC
Christmas Day
Nationwide
Boxing Day
Nationwide