New Zealand / NZ Public Holidays 2024
| Holiday | 2024 |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Monday 1 January |
| Day after New Year’s Day | Tuesday 2 January |
| Waitangi Day | Tuesday 6 February |
| Good Friday | Friday 29 March |
| Easter Monday | Monday 1 April |
| ANZAC Day | Thursday 25 April |
| King’s Birthday | Monday 3 June |
| Matariki | Friday 28 June |
| Labour Day | Monday 28 October |
| Christmas Day | Wednesday 25 December |
| Boxing Day | Thursday 26 December |
NZ Regional Anniversary Days 2024
| Region | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Auckland | Monday 29 January |
| Canterbury South | Monday 23 September |
| Canterbury | Friday 15 November |
| Chatham Islands | Monday 2 December |
| Hawke’s Bay | Friday 25 October |
| Marlborough | Monday 4 November |
| Nelson | Monday 29 January |
| Otago | Monday 25 March |
| Southland | Tuesday 2 April |
| Taranaki | Monday 11 March |
| Wellington | Monday 22 January |
| Westland | Monday 2 December |
New Zealand Government website
NZ public holidays are listed by the Holidays Act 2003. However, the actual dates are set in other pieces of legislation such as the Waitangi Day Act 1976, ANZAC Day Act 1966, and Sovereigns Birthday Observance Act 1952.
Other holidays such as Easter and Christmas are religious and treated slightly differently.
Regional or city councils set the Provincial Anniversary Days based on custom and practice.
NZ public holidays are administered by Employment NZ.
What to know about NZ public holidays
There are ten NZ public holidays observed each year and a regional anniversary. New Zealand is not like Australia with a State/Territory model and so the holiday system is much more consistent across the country.
Public holidays that are unique to NZ
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day marks the initial signing of the treaty of Waitangi in the Bay of Island on 6th February 1840. It is regarded as the founding document of New Zealand and is as close to a Constitution as NZ gets.
However, it was not until 1934 that Waitangi Day was celebrated and it wasn’t until 1974 that the day became a public holiday. Now, 6th February is a national holiday and if it falls on a weekend, the following Monday becomes a holiday.
On the day, NZ citizenship ceremonies are held, public gatherings occur, parties, social events, Maori hui on maraes occur and at Waitangi itself in recent years, protests.
New Zealand regional anniversary days
Regional Anniversary Days in NZ are heavily geared towards making the most of the spring and summer months, allowing residents additional long weekends when the weather lends itself to outdoor activities.
The timing of NZ public holidays
Most public holidays are from December through to April (also when the weather is best). NZ faces a long winter with few holidays, so this is a duration when leave is best used to break up the winter with spells off for skiing or travelling to the northern hemisphere for some relief.
Visiting NZ during a public holiday
The best time to visit NZ is between February and March. It is worth noting that between Christmas and New Year, shops may have limited hours and businesses tend to shut down.
Why are Mother’s Day and Father’s Day not listed as NZ public holidays?
Both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are Observances rather than public holidays for Kiwis. Unfortunately, NZ does not receive a legislated holiday or day off in lieu.
Important: Whilst all care is taken to ensure the data presented here is accurate, content published on this page is subject to change at any time without notice and may be inaccurate at the time you view it. The Champagne Mile will not be held accountable for informational and technical inaccuracies or errors. Site users are encouraged to cross-reference the information presented on this site with official Australian and state/territory government source websites.
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