Public holidays in New Zealand (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: New Zealand has 11 national public holidays in 2026, plus a regional anniversary day. Employees who work on one get at least time and a half, and usually a paid day in lieu. A holiday on a weekend moves to Monday only for those who would not have worked that weekend day.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| National public holidaysPublic holidays | The 2026 national public holidays are: New Year's Day (Thursday 1 January), Day after New Year's Day (Friday 2 January), Waitangi Day (Friday 6 February), Good Friday (3 April), Easter Monday (6 April), Anzac Day (25 April; observed Saturday 25 April or Monday 27 April), King's Birthday (Monday 1 June), Matariki (Friday 10 July), Labour Day (Monday 26 October), Christmas Day (Friday 25 December) and Boxing Day (26 December; observed Saturday 26 December or Monday 28 December). [1] |
| Number of national public holidaysPublic holidays | Employees are entitled to a maximum of 12 public holidays a year. The 2026 table lists 11 national days, and each region also has its own anniversary day. [2] |
| Working on a public holidayPublic holidays | An employee must be paid for a public holiday that is a day they would usually work. An employee who works on a public holiday must be paid at least time and a half, and gets an alternative holiday (a paid day off) if it is an otherwise working day for them. [3] |
| Shop opening on public holidaysPublic holidays | Almost all shops must close on 3 and a half days a year under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990: Christmas Day, Good Friday, Anzac Day until 1.00 pm, and Easter Sunday. Some shops may open with conditions or under an area exemption, and councils may adopt an Easter Sunday trading policy. Other public holidays have no such closure. [4] |
| Holiday falling on a weekendPublic holidays | If an employee would normally work on the Saturday or Sunday, the holiday stays on that day. If not, it moves to the Monday (sometimes Tuesday), called Mondayisation, and the weekend day is a normal day. An employee cannot claim two holidays for one Mondayised holiday. [5] |
Notes
- Each region also has its own anniversary day, which counts as a public holiday there. An employee can claim only one anniversary day a year.
- The page says the Employment Leave Act will replace the Holidays Act in August 2028.
Sources
- Employment New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment): Public holidays and anniversary dates (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Employment New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment): Managing public holidays as an employer (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Employment New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment): Public holidays rights for employees (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Employment New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment): Restricted trading days for shops (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Employment New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment): When a public holiday falls on a weekend (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.