Reference
Last updated: April 2026
New Zealand has 11 national public holidays per year. If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday and the employee does not normally work that day, it "Mondayises" to the following Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is already a public holiday). In addition, each region has one provincial anniversary day.
Holiday Pay Calculator Annual Leave Calculator PAYE Calculator| Holiday | Date | Day | Mondayised? |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January 2026 | Thursday | No |
| Day after New Year's Day | 2 January 2026 | Friday | No |
| Waitangi Day | 6 February 2026 | Friday | No |
| Good Friday | 3 April 2026 | Friday | N/A |
| Easter Monday | 6 April 2026 | Monday | N/A |
| ANZAC Day | 25 April 2026 | Saturday | Yes: Monday 27 April |
| King's Birthday | 1 June 2026 | Monday | N/A |
| Matariki | 10 July 2026 | Friday | No |
| Labour Day | 26 October 2026 | Monday | N/A |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 | Friday | No |
| Boxing Day | 26 December 2026 | Saturday | Yes: Monday 28 December |
| Holiday | Date | Day | Mondayised? |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January 2027 | Friday | No |
| Day after New Year's Day | 2 January 2027 | Saturday | Yes: Monday 4 January |
| Waitangi Day | 6 February 2027 | Saturday | Yes: Monday 8 February |
| Good Friday | 26 March 2027 | Friday | N/A |
| Easter Monday | 29 March 2027 | Monday | N/A |
| ANZAC Day | 25 April 2027 | Sunday | Yes: Monday 26 April |
| King's Birthday | 7 June 2027 | Monday | N/A |
| Matariki | 25 June 2027 | Friday | No |
| Labour Day | 25 October 2027 | Monday | N/A |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2027 | Saturday | Yes: Monday 27 December |
| Boxing Day | 26 December 2027 | Sunday | Yes: Tuesday 28 December |
If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it transfers to the following Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is already taken). This only applies if the employee does not normally work on the day the holiday falls. If the employee normally works Saturdays, they get the holiday on the actual Saturday and do NOT get the Monday as well.
Example: ANZAC Day 2026 falls on Saturday 25 April. An employee who works Monday to Friday and does not normally work Saturdays gets Monday 27 April as the observed holiday. A retail worker who normally works Saturdays gets the holiday on Saturday 25 April itself.
If an employee works on a public holiday, they are entitled to time-and-a-half pay for the hours worked, plus an alternative holiday (a "day in lieu") if the day would otherwise have been a working day for them.
| Situation | Pay Entitlement |
|---|---|
| Employee works on the public holiday | Time-and-a-half (1.5x) for all hours worked + alternative holiday |
| Employee does not work (holiday is on a normal working day) | Paid as if they had worked (relevant daily pay or average daily pay) |
| Employee does not work (holiday is not on a normal working day) | No pay entitlement |
| Region | Anniversary Day | Date (2026) | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Auckland Anniversary Day | 26 January | Monday |
| Northland | Auckland Anniversary Day | 26 January | Monday |
| Taranaki | Taranaki Anniversary Day | 9 March | Monday |
| Hawke's Bay | Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day | 23 October | Friday |
| Wellington | Wellington Anniversary Day | 19 January | Monday |
| Marlborough | Marlborough Anniversary Day | 2 November | Monday |
| Nelson | Nelson Anniversary Day | 2 February | Monday |
| Canterbury | Canterbury Anniversary Day | 16 November | Monday |
| South Canterbury | South Canterbury Anniversary Day | 28 September | Monday |
| Westland | Westland Anniversary Day | 30 November | Monday |
| Otago | Otago Anniversary Day | 23 March | Monday |
| Southland | Southland Anniversary Day | 20 January | Tuesday |
| Chatham Islands | Chatham Islands Anniversary Day | 30 November | Monday |
Provincial anniversary days are public holidays only for employees who normally work in that region. Each employee is entitled to one provincial anniversary day per year based on their place of work, not their home address.
Most shops must remain closed on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990. Exemptions include dairies, service stations, pharmacies, restaurants and cafes, takeaway shops, and certain tourist-area shops. Garden centres and other retailers can apply for an exemption from their local council.
Employees cannot be required to work on Easter Sunday unless they agree. If they do agree and work, they are entitled to time-and-a-half pay plus an alternative holiday.
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