Public holidays NZ are split into two groups – statutory holidays and provincial anniversary days. During the statutory holidays, most businesses close for the day. Usually, shops will keep trading on those days, however, on Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday there are special trading restrictions in place. The provincial anniversary days are celebrated in each province and are not national holidays. All public holidays in NZ are legislated by the Holidays Act 2003.
New Year’s Day 2017
Public holidays NZ start with New Year’s day. This is the first statutory holiday of the year and one that is celebrated worldwide. New Zealand has the honour to be one of the first countries in the world to celebrate the New Year.
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Sunday, 1st January or Tuesday 3rd January 2017
Day after New Year’s Day
The 2nd of January is also a statutory holiday in New Zealand. People spend the day similar to how they spend New Year’s Day – visiting friends and relaxing.
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Monday, January 2nd 2017
Wellington Anniversary
The first Anniversary day in the calendar year. Wellington Anniversary day is held on the last weekend in January. As with all the other public holiday NZ anniversary days, Wellington Anniversary is held on a Monday.
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Monday, January 23rd 2017
Auckland Anniversary/Nelson Anniversary
Auckland Anniversary Day shares the same date as Nelson Anniversary Day. The only other NZ public holiday day that this happens is the Westland and Chatham Islands’ Anniversary days.
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Monday, 30th January 2017
Waitangi Day
Waitangi is situated at the most northerly point on the North Islands. It is one of the most important historical areas in New Zealand. Here in 1840, the treaty between the British and Maori was signed.
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Tuesday, 6th February 2017
Taranaki Anniversary Day
This is one of the five public holidays NZ which falls in March. It is always held on the second Monday in March so that it avoids the Easter weekend.
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Monday, 13th March 2017
Otago Anniversary
The Otago region is one of the few NZ regions which doesn’t have any coastline. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t much to do! There are plenty of exciting ways to have a great day out here during the New Zealand public holidays.
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Monday, 20th March 2017
Good Friday Public Holiday NZ
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Friday, 14th April 2017
Easter Monday
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Monday, 17th April 2017
Easter Tuesday (Education only)/Southland Anniversary
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Tuesday, 18th April 2017
ANZAC Day
This statutory holiday differs from the Anniversary Days because it always falls on the same date every year – April 25th.
The public holiday is to commemorate all New Zealanders who have been killed in war.
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Tuesday, 25th April 2017
Queen’s Birthday
The public holidays in NZ also commemorate the Queen’s birthday. This is on first Monday in June. When Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1952, she was also proclaimed as “Queen of this Realm and all her other Realms” in New Zealand.
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Monday, 5th June 2017
South Canterbury Anniversary
Public holidays NZ start in spring with the South Canterbury Anniversary Day. It’s on the last Monday in September. It is also the day after Daylight Saving, so most people enjoy a longer lie after losing an hour during the night.
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Monday, 25th September 2017
Hawke’s Bay Anniversary
Hawke’s Bay is on the North Island and is one of the top wine-producing regions in the country.
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Friday, 2oth October 2017
Labour Day
It was in 1899 when this was deemed a statutory holiday. Since 1910 it has been held on the fourth Monday in October.
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Monday, 23rd October 2017
Marlborough Anniversary
The NZ region of Marlborough is on the most northern-easterly area on the South Island.
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Monday, 30st October 2017
Canterbury Anniversary
Canterbury is the only region to have 2 anniversary statutory holiday days in NZ.
The region has something to offer for everyone on a public bank holiday.
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Friday, 17th November 2017
Westland/Chatham Islands Anniversary
The Westland region is one of the least populated areas in NZ. It has a very long coastline, almost the length of the South Island. The landscape is very diverse with glaciers, high mountains, rugged coastline, and subtropical rainforests. Read about Chatham Islands.
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Monday, 4th December 2017
Christmas Day
Celebrated throughout the world whether a person is religious or not. Christmas day and boxing day holidays are celebrated in the middle of summer. It was first celebrated on the islands in 1642 by Abel Tasman’s crew.
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Monday, 25th December 2017
Boxing Day
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Tueday, 26th December 2017
Public Holidays NZ
To find out more about Public Holidays NZ, please check out our About Us page.