General Information » Facts & Figures » Public Holidays

New Zealand’s annual public holidays mark the country’s colonial and Christian history, as well as a smattering of deeply felt, indigenous celebrations, such as Waitangi and ANZAC Days.

Statutory holidays are honoured at the same time, if not always on the same day, every year. Most holidays have been moved to the nearest Monday to make them part of a long weekend. The exception is Easter, which varies with the lunar cycle in keeping with the rest of the world, and Waitangi and ANZAC days which take place on February 6 and April 25 respectively. In general, statutory holidays are celebrated nationwide, although each region also enjoys a provincial anniversary day, which varies from place to place throughout the year.

Some holidays, such as Labour Day, have largely lost their historical connection and are now simply celebrated as a day off work, while others, such as Waitangi Day (which commemorates the signing of the treaty of the same name) remain deeply fixed in the nation’s psyche.

Schools, universities and other educational facilities have additional holidays, roughly divided into four terms of about 10 weeks each with two to three weeks holiday between each one. See www.minedu.govt.nz for more information.

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