Planning your year around New Zealand’s public holidays can feel like piecing together a puzzle — especially when regional anniversary days and Mondayisation rules come into play. For 2025, the calendar brings 11 national holidays plus 17 regional anniversary days, with Matariki settling in as a fixture after its 2022 introduction — this guide lays out every date, explains the rules, and answers the questions Kiwis actually ask.

4 related posts

National public holidays in 2025: 11 ·
Regional anniversary days: 17 ·
New public holiday introduced in 2022: Matariki ·
Total public holidays including regional: 28 (varies by region)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact Matariki date may vary by iwi tradition (MBIE)
  • Some regional days shift if the fixed date lands on a weekend (timeanddate.com) (MBIE)
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Matariki 2025: 20 June — growing significance as a national holiday (MBIE)
  • Public holiday entitlements under Holidays Act 2003 (Employment New Zealand)

11 national holidays, one calendar: the table below shows every date and which day of the week it falls on, so you can spot long weekends at a glance.

Holiday Date 2025 Day of week
New Year’s Day 1 Jan Wednesday
Day after New Year’s Day 2 Jan Thursday
Waitangi Day 6 Feb Thursday
Good Friday 18 Apr Friday
Easter Monday 21 Apr Monday
ANZAC Day 25 Apr Friday
King’s Birthday 2 Jun Monday
Matariki 20 Jun Friday
Labour Day 27 Oct Monday
Christmas Day 25 Dec Thursday
Boxing Day 26 Dec Friday

The pattern: 2025 delivers five long weekends (Easter Monday, King’s Birthday, Labour Day, ANZAC Day, and Boxing Day all fall on a Friday or Monday), plus Matariki on a Friday. That’s six three-day weekends for those who get them all.

What days are public holidays in NZ in 2025?

National public holidays

  • New Year’s Day — Wednesday, 1 January (timeanddate.com)
  • Day after New Year’s Day — Thursday, 2 January (timeanddate.com)
  • Waitangi Day — Thursday, 6 February (EQ Consultants)
  • Good Friday — Friday, 18 April (EQ Consultants)
  • Easter Monday — Monday, 21 April (EQ Consultants)
  • ANZAC Day — Friday, 25 April (EQ Consultants)
  • King’s Birthday — Monday, 2 June (EQ Consultants)
  • Matariki — Friday, 20 June (EQ Consultants)
  • Labour Day — Monday, 27 October (EQ Consultants)
  • Christmas Day — Thursday, 25 December (EQ Consultants)
  • Boxing Day — Friday, 26 December (EQ Consultants)

Regional anniversary days

17 regions each observe their own anniversary day, many tied to early provincial settlement dates. The table below shows the 2025 observed dates for the major regions, highlighting the patchwork of local holidays.

Region Observed date 2025 Day of week
Auckland 27 Jan Monday
Nelson 3 Feb Monday
Taranaki 10 Mar Monday
Otago 24 Mar Monday
Southland 22 Apr Tuesday
South Canterbury 22 Sep Monday
Hawke’s Bay 24 Oct Friday
Marlborough 3 Nov Monday
Canterbury 14 Nov Friday
Chatham Islands 1 Dec Monday

The catch: regional anniversary days are not automatic for every employee — they depend on your workplace’s location and the holiday provisions in your employment agreement. Always check with your employer or local council for the exact observance in your area (Employment New Zealand).

Why this matters

Regional anniversary days add 17 potential additional days off, but they fragment the national calendar — a worker in Auckland gets 27 January off while someone in Christchurch gets 14 November. Travel, school holidays, and business operations all need to account for this patchwork.

The pattern: national holidays are uniform, but the regional days create a fragmented calendar that affects planning.

For Kiwis, the 2025 calendar offers 11 national holidays and up to 17 regional days, but the actual number of days off depends on your region and employer.

Is King’s birthday a public holiday in NZ?

Yes, King’s Birthday is one of New Zealand’s 11 national public holidays. It is observed on the first Monday of June each year (Employment New Zealand).

Date of King’s Birthday in 2025

  • Monday, 2 June 2025 (EQ Consultants)
  • Creates a guaranteed long weekend (timeanddate.com)

History of the holiday

The holiday was previously known as Queen’s Birthday, marking the official birthday of the reigning monarch. After the accession of King Charles III, it was renamed King’s Birthday. New Zealand is one of several Commonwealth realms that observe a monarch’s birthday public holiday — Australia, Canada, and the UK all have their own versions on different dates (NZ History).

The trade-off: the June date often delivers cold, wet weather across much of the country, so it’s more of a “stay home and light the fire” long weekend than a beach holiday. Still, it’s a reliable mid-year break for workers.

Is this coming Monday a public holiday in New Zealand?

How to check if a specific Monday is a public holiday

The most reliable method: check the official Employment New Zealand public holiday calendar, which lists every national and regional date for the current year (Employment New Zealand). For regional anniversary days, your local council website will have the confirmed observance date for your area.

List of Monday public holidays in 2025

  • Easter Monday — 21 April (EQ Consultants)
  • King’s Birthday — 2 June (EQ Consultants)
  • Labour Day — 27 October (EQ Consultants)

Additionally, several regional anniversary days fall on Mondays in 2025: Auckland (27 Jan), Nelson (3 Feb), Taranaki (10 Mar), Otago (24 Mar), South Canterbury (22 Sep), Marlborough (3 Nov), and Chatham Islands (1 Dec) (timeanddate.com).

The upshot

If you’re in Auckland, seven of the 28 potential public holidays in 2025 fall on a Monday. If you’re in a region with no Monday anniversary day, you get just three. The difference is significant for anyone planning a regular day off.

The implication: the number of Monday holidays varies significantly by region, affecting long-weekend opportunities.

Who has more public holidays, NZ or Australia?

Number of national public holidays in NZ vs Australia

Regional public holidays comparison

Australia’s states each add their own holidays — typically 10-13 total per state, including national and state-based days. New Zealand’s 17 regional anniversary days bring the total to 28 (though no single region gets all 17). The key difference: New Zealand’s national public holidays are consistent nationwide, while Australia’s vary significantly by state (Fair Work Ombudsman Australia).

The implication: New Zealand has more national public holidays than Australia, but Australia’s total public holidays per person can be similar or higher depending on the state. A worker in the Australian Capital Territory, for example, gets 13 public holidays in 2025 — more than a New Zealander who only gets the 11 national ones without regional days.

What is the biggest holiday in New Zealand?

Christmas and New Year celebrations

The Christmas-New Year period (25 Dec – 2 Jan) is the most widely celebrated holiday block in New Zealand. Many businesses close entirely for the week, and it’s the peak summer holiday period for travel and tourism (100% Pure New Zealand).

Waitangi Day significance

Waitangi Day (6 February) commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, New Zealand’s founding document. It is a national day of commemoration and reflection, marked by official ceremonies at Waitangi and community events nationwide (NZ History).

Matariki growing importance

Matariki, the Māori New Year, became a public holiday in 2022 — the first new public holiday added in New Zealand in decades. Its date shifts annually based on the appearance of the Matariki star cluster. In 2025, it falls on Friday, 20 June. The holiday is increasingly celebrated with cultural events, feasts, and stargazing (MBIE).

ANZAC Day as a day of remembrance

ANZAC Day (25 April) is a solemn day of remembrance for New Zealanders who served in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping. Dawn services and parades are held nationwide, and it remains one of the most widely observed public holidays in terms of public participation (NZ History).

The pattern: New Zealand’s “biggest” holiday depends on what you’re measuring — Christmas-New Year dominates for time off and travel, Waitangi Day for national identity, ANZAC Day for solemn observance, and Matariki for cultural renaissance.

2025 public holiday timeline

  • — New Year’s Day (timeanddate.com)
  • — Day after New Year’s Day (timeanddate.com)
  • — Auckland Anniversary Day (timeanddate.com)
  • — Nelson Anniversary Day (timeanddate.com)
  • — Waitangi Day (EQ Consultants)
  • — Taranaki Anniversary Day (timeanddate.com)
  • — Otago Anniversary Day (timeanddate.com)
  • — Good Friday (EQ Consultants)
  • — Easter Monday (EQ Consultants)
  • — Southland Anniversary Day (timeanddate.com)
  • — ANZAC Day (EQ Consultants)
  • — King’s Birthday (EQ Consultants)
  • — Matariki (EQ Consultants)
  • — South Canterbury Anniversary Day (timeanddate.com)
  • — Hawke’s Bay Anniversary Day (timeanddate.com)
  • — Labour Day (EQ Consultants)
  • — Marlborough Anniversary Day (timeanddate.com)
  • — Canterbury Anniversary Day (timeanddate.com)
  • — Chatham Islands Anniversary Day (timeanddate.com)
  • — Christmas Day (EQ Consultants)
  • — Boxing Day (EQ Consultants)

Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • All 11 national public holiday dates for 2025 are confirmed by the New Zealand Government (Employment New Zealand)
  • Regional anniversary days are confirmed by local councils (Auckland Council)
  • Mondayisation rules are statutory under the Holidays Act 2003 (Employment New Zealand)
  • Matariki 2025 falls on 20 June, as determined by the Matariki Advisory Group (MBIE)

What’s unclear

  • Exact date of Matariki may vary by iwi tradition — the official date is set by the Matariki Advisory Group, but some iwi may observe on a different day (MBIE)
  • Some regional anniversary days may be observed on a different date if the chosen date falls on a weekend — check your local council (timeanddate.com)

Perspectives on New Zealand’s public holidays

“Public holidays are a key part of New Zealand’s employment framework. The Holidays Act 2003 sets out the minimum entitlements for all employees, including the 11 public holidays and the rules around Mondayisation.”

— Employment New Zealand, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

“Matariki is a time for reflection, celebration, and connection with whānau and the environment. The holiday recognises the importance of mātauranga Māori and the Māori New Year.”

— Matariki Advisory Group, MBIE

“New Zealand’s public holidays are a drawcard for international visitors, especially summer holidays like Christmas and New Year, and the unique cultural celebrations of Waitangi Day and Matariki.”

— 100% Pure New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand

With 11 national holidays, 17 regional days, and a growing cultural calendar, New Zealand offers a distinctive mix of public holidays that balance national identity, local history, and worker wellbeing. The addition of Matariki in 2022 signals a shift toward recognising Māori knowledge and traditions at a national level.

For Kiwis planning their 2025 calendar, the choice is clear: lock in the national dates, check your local council for regional anniversary days, and remember that Mondayisation rules can shift a holiday from a weekend to a Monday. Miss that, and you could miss a day off.

Additional sources

day-off.app, qppstudio.net, en.wikipedia.org, nzpublicholiday.co.nz, natlib.govt.nz

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a public holiday and a regional anniversary day?

A public holiday applies nationally and is observed by all employees who would normally work that day. A regional anniversary day applies only within a specific region and is observed by employees whose workplaces are located in that region (Employment New Zealand).

Do all regions observe the same regional anniversary days?

No. Each of New Zealand’s 17 regions observes its own anniversary day, typically tied to the province’s founding or settlement date. Not all regions observe the same day, and some regions have different dates than neighbouring areas (timeanddate.com).

What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend in New Zealand?

Under the Holidays Act 2003, if a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it is “Mondayised” — observed on the following Monday. This applies to Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Day after New Year’s Day, Waitangi Day, and ANZAC Day (Employment New Zealand).

Are shops open on public holidays in New Zealand?

Most shops can open on public holidays, but some have restricted trading hours. On Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and before 1 pm on ANZAC Day, most shops must remain closed under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990. Exceptions apply to dairies, petrol stations, and pharmacies (Employment New Zealand).

How is the Matariki date determined?

The Matariki public holiday is determined by the Matariki Advisory Group, which sets the date based on the first new moon after the winter solstice, when the Matariki star cluster rises in the pre-dawn sky. In 2025, that date is Friday, 20 June (MBIE).

Is ANZAC Day a public holiday in New Zealand?

Yes, ANZAC Day (25 April) is one of New Zealand’s 11 national public holidays. It is a day of remembrance for those who served in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations (NZ History).

Can I be required to work on a public holiday in NZ?

Under the Holidays Act 2003, an employer can require you to work on a public holiday if it is in your employment agreement and the work is necessary. If you work on a public holiday, you are entitled to time-and-a-half pay plus an alternative holiday (day off in lieu) (Employment New Zealand).

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