Some holidays are set by legislation Others are religious holidays (Easter and Christmas) or are observed
locally by custom and practice (Provincial Anniversary Days). While provided in good faith,
actual dates may vary to dates shown
Date
Holidays
1 January (Satuday)
New Year's Day
2 January (Sunday)
Day after New Year's Day
29 January (Saturday)
Anniversary Day Auckland / Northland
6 February (Sunday)
Waitangi Day
22 April (Friday)
Good Friday
25 April (Monday)
Easter Monday
25 April (Monday)
ANZAC Day
6 June (Monday)
Queen's Birthday
24 October (Monday)
Labour Day
25 December (Sunday)
Christmas Day
26 December (Monday)
Boxing Day
A list of 2010 public holidays in New Zealand with the date each one falls on, including regional anniversary holidays for the former provinces. Also special days in NZ.
New Zealand public holidays are governed by the Holidays Act 2003 and for employment purposes there are ten public (also known as statutory) holidays plus an eleventh one depending on region. Apart from the regional holiday the other public holidays such as Waitangi Day, ANZAC Day, Queen’s Birthday and Labour Day apply throughout the country.
In New Zealand there are two types of national public holidays, those that 'Mondayised' and those that are not.
Christmas and New Year are ‘Mondayised’ holidays, so if these fall on a weekend that employee does not normally work then the holiday is transferred to the following Monday or Tuesday. If the employee would normally work on the particular weekend then it remains a traditional holiday and the employee is entitled to that day off on pay. Other public holidays are only taken on the day they fall and only employees who would have otherwise worked that day are entitled to a paid day off.
Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day are always commemorated on the exact date, as they commemorate specific historical events. Apart from Good Friday the other New Zealand Statutory Holidays have been Mondayised.
All workers who work on a public holiday must be both paid time-and-a-half and given an alternative holiday (known as a day in lieu). Payment for the alternative holiday is equivalent relevant daily pay for the the particular alternative day taken, had they have worked it.
While shops may trade on most public holidays, there are special trading restrictions on Christmas Day, Good Friday and before 1pm on ANZAC Day. In recent years there have been deliberate violations of these trading restrictions on Good Friday by garden centres. (Previously, garden centres were exempt from these restrictions.)
In tourist towns, such as Queenstown in the South Island, some exemptions are granted by the district council for selected shops to open on Good Friday. The reason being is to keep up the level of service to the tourists, as many would not know the shops will be closed on that day. However, liquor sale is restricted for some of that day (not usually a problem because shops are usually closed on that day).
New Zealand schools have a 4-term year, of about ten weeks each and usually with a two week holiday between terms. Although standard term dates are set by the Ministry of Education each year, schools can vary these to account for local holidays and school closures due to weather. The first term commences in late January or early February.
The holiday between terms two and three is generally known as the midwinter break and occurs in July, while that between terms 3 and 4 occurs in late September, early October. Term 4 ends in mid December, generally a week or two before Christmas, though for many senior students this term ends after their final NCEA examination in late November or early December.
