View source for Public holidays in New Zealand

{{Short description|None}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox holiday
| image=File:Flag of New Zealand.svg{{!}}border
| caption=
| holiday_name=Public holidays in New Zealand
| nickname= Statutory holidays, stat holidays
| significance=
| observedby= New Zealanders
| scheduling=
| duration =
| frequency = Twelve days a year (from 2022)<ref name="2003act"/>
| mdy = yes
| celebrations =
| type = National, regional
}}
'''Public holidays in New Zealand''' (also known as '''statutory holidays''') consist of a variety of cultural, national, and religious [[holiday]]s that are legislated in [[New Zealand]]. Workers can get a maximum of 12 public holidays (eleven national holidays plus one provincial holiday) and a minimum of 20 [[annual leave]] days a year.

== History ==
[[Bank holiday]]s in New Zealand originated with a celebration of [[Saint Andrew's Day|St Andrew's Day]] in 1857.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 Dec 1857|title=THE THISTLE ACT. NEW ZEALANDER|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZ18571202.2.8|access-date=2021-03-01|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> Nationwide public holidays began with the Bank Holidays Act 1873, which was based on the UK [[Bank Holidays Act 1871]]. Initially there was some resistance to it.<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 Mar 1875|title=NEWS OF THE DAY. PRESS|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18750327.2.13|access-date=2021-03-01|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref>

Anniversary days celebrated, from as early as 1843, the first arrivals of [[Pākehā settlers|settlers]] in each province.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Public holidays|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/public-holidays/print|access-date=2021-03-01|website=teara.govt.nz}}</ref> By 1846 the [[Wellington Province|Wellington]] Anniversary Day was described as having the appearance of an English Fair.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 Jan 1846|title=WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18460128.2.19|access-date=2021-03-01|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref>

Half-holidays, or early closing days, were widespread from the 1900s to 1970s. They allowed 6 day weeks in shops and offices to include a half day off from 1 pm, on a day set by the local council.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shops and Offices Act, 1921-22 |url=http://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/hist_act/saoa192112gv1921n46237.pdf}}</ref> From the late 1840s the practice spread from Wellington and Christchurch. In the 1870s many towns adopted shopping half holidays, usually a Wednesday Thursday, or Saturday. From 1873 female factory workers had a half-holiday from 2 pm on Saturdays, from 1881 under-18s got it and, after 1891, the holiday started from 1 pm. The Shops and Shop Assistants Act 1892 gave shop assistants half-holidays starting at 1 pm, the shops themselves also being closed from 1894. From 1907 electors could set the day in local elections.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 September 2013 |title=Half-holiday closure, 1871 (1st of 2) |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/39779/half-holiday-closure-1871 |website=Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand}}</ref>

===Matariki===
{{Further|Matariki#Public holiday}}
In 2006, [[Māori Language Commission]]er [[Haami Piripi]] proposed to make [[Matariki]] an official holiday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0606/S00237.htm|title=Eye to Eye - Intermarriage is the answer|last=Front of the Box press release|date=23 June 2006|website=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop]]|access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref> After public discussion, in 2009 a bill was introduced to make Matariki a public holiday; however, the bill was voted down at its [[first reading]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://news.tangatawhenua.com/2009/08/te-ra-o-matariki-bill-%e2%80%93-matariki-day-bill-loses-on-first-reading/| title=Te Ra o Matariki Bill – Matariki Day Bill loses on first reading| date=20 August 2009| first=Rahui| last=Katene| publisher=tangatawhenua.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822091234/http://news.tangatawhenua.com/2009/08/te-ra-o-matariki-bill-%E2%80%93-matariki-day-bill-loses-on-first-reading/ |archive-date=22 August 2016}}</ref> Prime Minister [[Jacinda Ardern]] announced on 7 September 2020 that her government would create a new public holiday to celebrate Matariki should the Labour Party win the [[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 general election]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Perry |first1=Nick |title=New Zealand government to honor Maori New Year if reelected |url=https://news.yahoo.com/zealand-government-honor-maori-reelected-040529946.html |website=Yahoo News |date=Sep 6, 2020 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=September 8, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908114407/https://news.yahoo.com/zealand-government-honor-maori-reelected-040529946.html  |archive-date= September 8, 2020 }}</ref> Labour won the election, and in February 2021 Ardern announced that Matariki would become an annual public holiday with a variable date (June or July).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300221005/new-matariki-public-holiday-date-to-move-around-like-easter-date-for-2022-to-be-announced|title=New Matariki public holiday date to move around like Easter, date for 2022 to be announced|first=Joel|last=Maxwell|work=Stuff|date=2021-02-04|access-date=2021-01-04}}</ref> The [[Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022|Matariki Public Holiday Bill]] received royal assent on 11 April 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Te Pire mō te Hararei Tūmatanui o te Kāhui o Matariki/Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Bill |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/BILL_115986/te-pire-m%C5%8D-te-hararei-t%C5%ABmatanui-o-te-k%C4%81hui-o-matarikite |publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]] |access-date=27 April 2022}}</ref> The first Matariki public holiday was observed on 24 June 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McClure |first1=Tess |title=Matariki: 'historic' moment as New Zealand celebrates first Indigenous public holiday |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/24/matariki-historic-moment-as-new-zealand-celebrates-first-indigenous-public-holiday |access-date=23 September 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=23 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

==National public holidays==

Statutory holidays are legislated by  the Holidays Act 2003.<ref name="2003act" />

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|- style=background:#efefef;
! Date
! [[Holiday]]<ref name="2003act">{{cite web|url=https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0129/latest/DLM236387.html|title=Holidays Act 2003 No 129 (as at 12 April 2022), Public Act|publisher=Parliamentary Counsel Office|access-date=7 June 2022}}</ref>
! Trading restriction
|-
| 1 January{{efn|name=Monday|Or the following Monday if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday.}}
| [[New Year's Day]]
| No
|-
| 2 January{{efn|name=Tuesday|Or the following Monday if it falls on a Saturday, or the following Tuesday if it falls on a Sunday.}}
| Day after New Year's Day
| No
|-
| 6 February{{efn|name=Monday}}
| [[Waitangi Day]]
| No
|-
| The Friday before [[Easter Sunday]]
| [[Good Friday]]
| Yes
|-
| The day after [[Easter Sunday]]
| [[Easter Monday]]
| No
|-
| 25 April{{efn|name=Monday}}
| [[Anzac Day]]
| Yes (until 1 pm)
|-
| The first Monday in June
| [[King's_Official_Birthday|King's Birthday]]
| No
|-
| The closest Friday to the [[Tangaroa]] [[lunar calendar]] period of the correct lunar calendar month.<ref name="MatarikiDates">{{cite web|url=https://www.mbie.govt.nz/assets/matariki-dates-2022-to-2052-matariki-advisory-group.pdf|title=Matariki Dates 2022 - 2052|publisher=Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment|access-date=7 June 2022}}</ref>
| [[Matariki]]
| No
|-
| The fourth Monday in October
| [[Labour Day]]
| No
|-
| 25 December{{efn|name=Monday}}
| [[Christmas Day]]
| Yes
|-
| 26 December{{efn|name=Tuesday}}
| [[Boxing Day]]
| No
|}
{{notelist}}

===Mondayised===

The holidays that fall on Saturday or Sunday are "[[Mondayisation|Mondayised]]". Those that fall on a Monday through to Friday are commemorated on their proper date.

If the holiday falls on a weekend, and an employee does not work on the weekends, then the holiday is transferred to the following Monday or Tuesday. If the employee works on the weekends, then the holiday is taken on that day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/holidays_act_2003/public_holidays.html|title=Mondayised Public Holidays|publisher=New Zealand Department of Labour|access-date=5 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412054032/http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/holidays_act_2003/public_holidays.html|archive-date=12 April 2010}}</ref>

[[Christmas Day]] and [[New Years' Day]] have always been Mondayised holidays, and from 2013 [[Waitangi Day]] and [[Anzac Day]] are also Mondayised.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Extra-public-holidays-voted-in/tabid/1607/articleID/294661/Default.aspx|work=3 News NZ |title=Extra public holidays voted in| date=17 April 2013}}</ref>

Waitangi Day and Anzac Day are always ''commemorated'' on the exact date, as they remember specific historical events. The statutory holidays, however, are Mondayised.

===Pay===
All workers who work on a public holiday must be paid [[time-and-a-half]], and if it would otherwise be a normal working day for them, be given an alternative holiday (known as a day in lieu). Payment for the alternative holiday is equivalent relevant daily pay for the particular alternative day taken, had they have worked it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dol.govt.nz/workplace/knowledgebase/item/1248|title=Pay for alternative holiday|publisher=New Zealand Department of Labour|access-date=5 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522051851/http://dol.govt.nz/workplace/knowledgebase/item/1248|archive-date=22 May 2010}}</ref>
===Restricted trading days===

There are special trading restrictions on Christmas Day, [[Good Friday]], [[Easter Sunday]] (not a public holiday) and before 1&nbsp;pm on [[Anzac Day]]. On those days, generally only [[dairy (store)|dairies]], [[petrol station]]s, pharmacies, restaurants, cafés, and shops within an airport or train station may open. All other shops including supermarkets must close.

Some shops open each year despite the law and are fined.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anthony |first1=John |title=Some garden centres to defy Easter trading laws |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/67559713/some-garden-centres-to-defy-easter-trading-laws |access-date=10 April 2023 |work=Stuff |date=1 April 2015 |language=en}}</ref>

Certain areas have exemptions allowing them to trade one or more of the restricted days. These areas include Parnell Road in [[Parnell, Auckland]], [[Paihia]], [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]], and [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Restricted shop trading days |url=https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/public-holidays/restricted-shop-trading-days/ |website=www.employment.govt.nz |publisher=Employment New Zealand |access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> The Shop Trading Hours Commission  decided where exemptions were to apply but it was shut down in 1990, leaving the existing exemptions in place but no longer having a mechanism for other places to apply. In 2016, regional councils were given the power to set Easter Sunday trading rules in their area.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sowman-Lund |first1=Stewart |title=The legal loophole that allows certain streets to trade on Easter |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/08-04-2023/the-46-year-old-legal-loophole-that-allows-certain-streets-to-trade-on-easter |access-date=10 April 2023 |work=The Spinoff |date=8 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Around 44 councils, covering around one-third of the population, have set policy allowing trading on Easter Sunday.<ref>{{cite news |title=Confused about Easter trading rules? Here's the lowdown |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/487493/confused-about-easter-trading-rules-here-s-the-lowdown |access-date=10 April 2023 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=6 April 2023 |language=en-nz}}</ref>

Shops that can open on the restricted days are still subject to conditions and subject to any other law to the contrary. For example, alcohol can only be sold with a meal or to people staying on the premises overnight.<ref>{{cite act| title = Sale and Supply of Alcohol  |year=2012|url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2012/0120/latest/DLM3339519.html}}</ref>

==Provincial anniversary days== <!-- [[Provincial Anniversary Day]] redirects to this section. Please update the link if you change the section title. -->
In addition to the eleven national public holidays, section 44 of the Holidays Act 2003 specifies as public holidays the anniversary days of each [[Provinces of New Zealand|province]] (or the day locally observed as that day) to celebrate the founding days or landing days of the first colonists of the various colonial provinces.<ref name="2003act" />{{rp|at=Section 44}} These are only celebrated within each province, not nationwide. Exact dates of the various provinces' anniversary days are not specifically stated in the act, and are instead determined by historical convention and local custom. The regions covered are set by [[Provinces of New Zealand|provincial district]] (as they stood when abolished in 1876), plus [[Southland, New Zealand|Southland]], the [[Chatham Islands]], South Canterbury, and [[Northland Region|Northland]]. The actual observance days can vary even within each province and is due to local custom, convenience or the proximity of seasonal events or other holidays and may differ from the official observance day.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Provincial District
!includes
!Actual Day
!Observance Day
|-
| [[Wellington Province]]
| [[Wellington Region|Wellington]], [[Manawatū-Whanganui|Manawatū]], [[Wanganui District|Whanganui]]
| 22 January
| Monday nearest to the actual day
|-
| [[Auckland Province]]
| [[Waikato]], [[King Country]], [[Coromandel, New Zealand|Coromandel]], [[Bay of Plenty Region|Bay of Plenty]], [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]]/[[East Coast, New Zealand|East Coast]]
| 29 January
| Monday nearest to [[Auckland Anniversary Day|the actual day]]
|-
| [[Northland Region|Northland]]
| [[Whangārei]]
| 29 January
| Monday nearest to the actual day
|-
| [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]]
| [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]], [[Tasman Region|Tasman]], [[Buller District|Buller]] and parts of North Canterbury
| 1 February
| Monday nearest to the actual day
|-
| [[Otago Province]]
| [[Dunedin]], [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
| 23 March
| Monday nearest to the actual day (this can vary if it would otherwise coincide with Easter Monday)
|-
| [[Southland, New Zealand|Southland]]
| [[Invercargill]], [[Bluff, New Zealand|Bluff]], [[Milford Sound]], [[Fiordland]]
| 25 March<ref>{{cite web|title=Southland Anniversary Day|url=http://commercesouth.com/bfit/infozone/AnniversayDay|work=Southland Chamber of Commerce|access-date=1 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331033813/http://commercesouth.com/bfit/infozone/AnniversayDay|archive-date=31 March 2013}}</ref>
| Easter Tuesday<ref>{{cite web|title=Mayors decide on Anniversary Day Date|url=http://www.southlanddc.govt.nz/mayors-decide-on-anniversary-day-date/|work=Southland District Council|access-date=1 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212102237/http://southlanddc.govt.nz/mayors-decide-on-anniversary-day-date/|archive-date=12 February 2013}}</ref>
|-
| [[Taranaki|Taranaki (New Plymouth)]]
| [[New Plymouth]]
| 31 March
| Second Monday in March – to avoid Easter
|-
| [[South Canterbury]]
| [[Timaru]]
| 25 September
| Fourth Monday in September — [[Dominion Day]]
|-
| [[Hawke's Bay Region|Hawke's Bay]]
| [[Napier, New Zealand|Napier]], [[Hastings, New Zealand|Hastings]]
| 1 November
| Friday before [[Labour Day]]
|-
| [[Marlborough Province|Marlborough]]
| [[Blenheim, New Zealand|Blenheim]], [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]]
| 1 November
| First Monday after [[Labour Day]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury]]
| rowspan="3" | [[Christchurch]], [[Ashburton, New Zealand|Ashburton]]
| rowspan="3" | 11 November
| Christchurch Show Day (North Canterbury)
|-
| Christchurch Show Day (Central Canterbury)
|-
| Second Friday after the first Tuesday in November (Christchurch City) — to coincide with the [[Canterbury A&P Show]].
|-
| [[Chatham Islands]]
| [[Waitangi, Chatham Islands|Waitangi]]
| 30 November
| Monday nearest to the actual day
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[West Coast, New Zealand|Westland]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Hokitika]], [[Greymouth, New Zealand|Greymouth]]
| rowspan="2" | 1 December
| Monday nearest to the actual day (Greymouth)
|-
| Varies (outside Greymouth)
|}

==Annual leave and non-working days==
In addition to the above holidays, from 1 April 2007 all workers must be given four weeks annual leave, often taken in the summer Christmas &ndash; New Year period.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Swarbrick |first1=Nancy |title=Holidays - Paid holidays |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/holidays/page-2 |encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=17 March 2021 |language=en-NZ |date=5 September 2013}}</ref> In many industries there is a Christmas &ndash; New Year shutdown of business.  With only three working days between Christmas and New Year, many workers take this time off, as they can have a ten-day summer break for only three days leave.  Many retail outlets also hold sales at this time to stimulate business while others close down due to low demand for services.  The days from 25 December to 15 January are not considered to be working days for official government purposes. The public counters of most government departments do open on weekdays during this period, though often only a limited service may be available.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

==School holidays==
[[State school]]s have a 4-term year, of about ten weeks each and usually with a two-week holiday between terms.<ref>{{cite web |title=School terms and holidays for state and integrated schools and kura |url=https://www.education.govt.nz/school/school-terms-and-holidays/#cal2020 |website=www.education.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education |access-date=28 April 2020 |language=en-NZ |date=2020}}</ref> Although standard term dates are set by the [[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|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. Occasionally, Easter holidays and/or Anzac Day may fall within these holidays. The holiday between terms two and three is generally known as the midwinter break{{According to whom|date=December 2021}} and occurs in July, while that between terms 3 and 4 occurs in late September, early October. Term four ends in mid December, generally a week or two before Christmas, though for many senior students this term ends after their final [[National Certificate of Educational Achievement|NCEA]] examination in late November or early December.{{cn|date=October 2022}} From time to time, state schools are entitled to schedule a "teacher only" day for teacher training and administration. These days count as a public holiday for the students of that particular school -- who do not attend on that day -- but not for the teachers or the broader non-student population.

== One-off public holidays ==

A "one off" national public holiday, known as [[Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day]], was [[Reactions to the death of Elizabeth II|declared]] by the Prime Minister for 26 September 2022 to allow people to pay their respects for the [[Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II|passing]] of [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]], the longest-reigning [[monarch of New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Queen Elizabeth death: New Zealand gets public holiday to commemorate late monarch |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/09/queen-elizabeth-death-new-zealand-gets-public-holiday-to-commemorate-late-monarch.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912035210/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/09/queen-elizabeth-death-new-zealand-gets-public-holiday-to-commemorate-late-monarch.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 September 2022 |work=[[Newshub]] |access-date=12 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day: What you need to know |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/475481/queen-elizabeth-ii-memorial-day-what-you-need-to-know |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> South Canterbury Anniversary Day, which was due to be observed on 26 September, was moved to be observed on Friday 11 November.<ref>{{cite web |last=MacDuff |first=Keiller |date=20 September 2022 |title=South Canterbury Anniversary Day to move after three councils vote in favour |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/129928990/south-canterbury-anniversary-day-to-move-after-three-councils-vote-in-favour |access-date=20 September 2022 |website=Stuff}}</ref>

==Proposals for new holidays==
Following the death of [[Sir Edmund Hillary]] in 2008, the [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]] proposed a public holiday in his honour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0801/S00088.htm|title=Annual Sir Edmund Hillary Day a fitting tribute|last=Green Party press release|date=14 January 2008|website=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop]]|access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref> There is also support in some quarters for the old [[Dominion Day]] holiday to be revived as "New Zealand Day".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10465932|title=Editorial: Dominion Day debate needless|date=25 September 2007|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref>

==Proposals for abolition of holidays==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2021}}
From the 1950s to the 1970s it was frequently suggested that the Provincial Anniversary holidays be abolished, as the [[Provinces of New Zealand|Provinces]] ceased to exist in 1876.

Before Waitangi Day was made a national public holiday it was sometimes suggested that a Waitangi Day holiday should replace the anniversary days, and the [[Waitangi Day Act 1960]] made provision for this. Waitangi Day was eventually made an additional holiday and the provincial holidays lived on, primarily because most regions had long established events on those weekends.

== See also ==
* [[List of unofficial observances in New Zealand]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/public-holidays/ Employment New Zealand Public holidays]
* [https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/public-holidays/public-holidays-and-anniversary-dates/ Employment New Zealand Public holidays - Public holidays and anniversary dates]
* [https://apps.employment.govt.nz/ical/public-holidays-all.ics Employment New Zealand Public holidays] in [[iCalendar]] format
* [https://education.govt.nz/ministry-of-education/school-terms-and-holidays/ School Terms and Holidays], Ministry of Education

{{New Zealand topics}}
{{Public holidays in New Zealand}}
{{Oceania topic|Public holidays in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Public Holidays in New Zealand}}
[[Category:Public holidays in New Zealand| ]]
[[Category:Lists of public holidays by country|New Zealand]]
[[Category:Lists of organised events in New Zealand|Holidays]]