Public holidays in New Zealand – What to expect when visiting our country
In New Zealand, there are a range of public holidays throughout the year, where a lot of businesses will close and their employees will enjoy a day, or part day, off.
There are both national public holidays, which are acknowledged by the whole country, and regional anniversary days, where the public holiday is only recognised by that region and not the whole of the country.
National public holidays
National public holidays celebrate different events of significance in New Zealand – for example New Years Day (1st Jan) and Waitangi Day (6th Feb), Matariki (June or July, dependent on the lunar calendar).
These days are of national significance and the public holiday is acknowledged across the whole country.
Our public holidays are:
- New Years Day – 1 January
- Day after New Years Day – 2 January
- Waitangi Day – 6 February, but Kiwi get the closest Monday off work too
- Good Friday – date varies in March or April
- Easter Monday – date varies in March or April
- ANZAC Day – 25 April, but Kiwi get the closest Monday off work too
- King’s Birthday – the first Monday in June
- Matariki – in June or July, and celebrated on a Friday
- Labour Day – the fourth Monday in October
- Christmas Day – 25 December
- Boxing Day – 26 December
Regional Anniversary days
Regional Anniversary days are set by regional or city councils and are local to that area.
These regional anniversary days recognise the establishment of the regional provinces the early days of British settlement across the country.
Regional anniversary days don’t always fall on a reoccurring date.
They might be observed on the closest Monday or Friday to a date or it could be a completely different date during the year to line up with other events/holidays.
Keep an eye out for the following regional anniversary days:
- Auckland Anniversary Day (including Northland, Auckland, Waikato, King Country, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne and East Coast Regions): The closest Monday to 29 January
- Taranaki Anniversary Day: Second Monday in March
- Hawke’s Bay Anniversary Day: The Friday before Labour Day
- Wellington Anniversary Day (including Whanganui, Palmerston North, Kapiti, Feilding, Levin and Masterton): The closest Monday to 22 January
- Nelson Anniversary Day: The closest Monday to 1 February
- Marlborough Anniversary Day: The first Monday after Labour Day
- Westland Anniversary Day: The closest Monday to 1 December
- Canterbury Anniversary Day (including North and Central Canterbury Regions, like Ashburton): Second Friday, after the first Tuesday in November – the same day as the Christchurch Show
- South Canterbury Anniversary Day: The fourth Monday in September
- Otago Anniversary Day: The closest Monday to 23 March
- Southland Anniversary Day: Easter Tuesday
How might public holidays affect my travels?
You generally won’t be too impacted as a traveller in New Zealand during a public holiday.
Generally, adventure activities, tours and hospitality businesses will still be open, so you should still be able to enjoy your vacation.
However, there will be some limitations for certain public holidays, including public holiday surcharges, closures and restricted trading.
Restricted trading days
Restricted trading days refer to:
- Christmas Day (25 December),
- Good Friday – March or April
- Easter Sunday – March or April
- ANZAC Day (25 April, before 1 pm).
On these days, there is a legal restriction preventing some shops from opening.
For Easter weekend and ANZAC Day public holidays, you should still have access to hospitality businesses, so should have the option to head out to dinner and drinks. Supermarkets, however, will probably be closed.
Depending on your location, you may still have access to different activities and sightseeing.
Pro tip: The best way to find out if a business you want to visit is open is to head to their website and check their opening hours or booking calendar.
For Christmas Day, your best bet is to book ahead if you’re wanting to head out for a meal (as options will be limited) or head to the supermarket a day or two before Christmas Day to grab supplies you may need for your Christmas celebrations.
You won’t find many businesses open on Christmas Day as Kiwi enjoy the day with their family and friends.
The 25th of December is really the one day of the year that most things shut down (even to travellers).
If you find yourself stuck though, hotels/accommodations, petrol stations and some takeaways remain open.
Public holiday surcharges
It is also quite common now for businesses to charge a ‘public holiday surcharge’ on a public holiday.
Businesses have additional staffing costs on public holidays (as they are required to pay their team more for the work they do on that day, and to provide them with an additional paid day off at a later date).
Because of this, some eateries will pass on a small fee (normally 15%). If a surcharge is to be added, this must be clearly indicated before you make your purchase. That way, you can make an informed decision about whether you make a purchase.
Some eateries promote the fact that they don’t charge a surcharge on public holidays, so you can hunt them out if you’d prefer.
Alcohol on public holidays in New Zealand
If you enjoy an alcoholic beverage over a public holiday or long weekend, be sure to purchase your supplies ahead of time as takeaway alcohol cannot be sold on the restricted trading days mentioned above.
If you are heading out for a meal, you will still be able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage with your food, but you won’t be able to buy any to take with you for after dinner.
This restriction is applicable to any shop that sells alcohol, including supermarkets, bottle shops, wineries and breweries.
There is an exception for wineries on Easter Sunday, as long as they grow the grapes for your wine on the land where their cellar door is located, and for ANZAC Day where the restrictions are lifted from 1 pm.
What do our local NZ experts say about public holidays?
We asked the NZTT moderators for their experience in Aotearoa New Zealand on public holidays.
As locals, this is what they had to say…
Claire, from a small town in the Manawatu-Whanganui region, says “Thinking ahead about public holidays is my biggest tip. Going in 2 days before is usually the best. With full day closures, I’ll pop in really early on the last day they are open to make sure my fresh produce is the freshest it can be.”
Jacque, from the city of Christchurch, says “I find things are shut for such a short time there’s no need to stock up on food – just purchase anything special you might need for a meal like Christmas dinner! I do tend to check if places charge a surcharge or not, as lots don’t charge a surcharge these days and advertise it.”
Nikki, from rural Southland, says “No real need to stock up. Shop a couple of days before, if you can, to avoid crowds and supply issues. Remember to get that bottle of wine or beers for Christmas Day.”
Travelling in New Zealand? Let us help with deals and info…
🛏️ Accommodation
From budget to luxe, find the perfect place to stay while visiting.
🎫 Activities & excursions
See the best of New Zealand with our favourite tried-and-tested activities.
🚗 Transport
Travel around Aotearoa NZ.
First-time visitor to New Zealand?
If you have any questions about public holidays in Aotearoa New Zealand, please ask them in our Facebook Group – we’d love to hear from you!
