Here are all of New Zealand’s 2026 public holidays, including the Mondayised dates for ANZAC Day and Boxing Day, every regional anniversary day, and the long weekends to plan around. Dates are checked against the official New Zealand Government list.
There are 11 national public holidays in 2026, plus one regional anniversary day depending on where you work.
| Public holiday | 2026 date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday 1 January | |
| Day after New Year’s Day | Friday 2 January | |
| Waitangi Day | Friday 6 February | |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April | |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April | |
| ANZAC Day | Saturday 25 April Observed Monday 27 April |
Mondayised for anyone who doesn’t normally work Saturdays. |
| King’s Birthday | Monday 1 June | First Monday in June. |
| Matariki | Friday 10 July | Te Kāhui o Matariki. The date changes each year. |
| Labour Day | Monday 26 October | Fourth Monday in October. |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December | |
| Boxing Day | Saturday 26 December Observed Monday 28 December |
Moves to Monday for anyone who doesn’t normally work Saturdays. |
Observed dates apply if you don’t normally work on the weekend day the holiday falls on. Source: New Zealand Government.
Each region also gets an anniversary day. It’s usually the Monday closest to the actual anniversary, but some regions use a different day. Which one you get depends on the old provincial boundaries, not today’s regions.
| Anniversary day | 2026 observed date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wellington | Monday 19 January | |
| Auckland | Monday 26 January | |
| Nelson | Monday 2 February | |
| Taranaki | Monday 9 March | Second Monday in March, to avoid Easter. |
| Otago | Monday 23 March | No single local custom, so the date can vary. |
| Southland | Tuesday 7 April | Observed on Easter Tuesday. |
| South Canterbury | Monday 28 September | Dominion Day, the fourth Monday in September. |
| Hawke’s Bay | Friday 23 October | Friday before Labour Day. |
| Marlborough | Monday 2 November | First Monday after Labour Day. |
| Canterbury | Friday 13 November | Christchurch Show Day (North and Central Canterbury). |
| Westland | Monday 30 November | Varies across Westland. Greymouth observes this date. |
| Chatham Islands | Monday 30 November |
Regional dates can vary locally. If you’re unsure which anniversary day applies to you, check with your local council.
2026 has eight long weekends, including four-day breaks at New Year, Easter and Christmas. The number shows how many days in a row you’ll have off if you normally work Monday to Friday.
Thursday 1 – Sunday 4 January
Friday 6 – Sunday 8 February
Friday 3 – Monday 6 April
Saturday 25 – Monday 27 April
Saturday 30 May – Monday 1 June
Friday 10 – Sunday 12 July
Saturday 24 – Monday 26 October
Friday 25 – Monday 28 December
When Waitangi Day or ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the holiday moves to the following Monday for anyone who doesn’t normally work that weekend day. This is called Mondayisation.
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and 2 January work in a similar way. If one falls on a weekend and you wouldn’t normally work that day, you get the holiday on the following Monday, or the Tuesday if Monday is already a holiday.
In 2026, two holidays are Mondayised: ANZAC Day (Saturday 25 April) is observed on Monday 27 April, and Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December) is observed on Monday 28 December.
RPC Logistics stores, picks and delivers for New Zealand brands from our Auckland warehouse. Talk to us early about holding extra stock before peak periods and booking deliveries around public holiday closures, so your customers aren’t left waiting.
Public holidays change more than the calendar. Distribution centres adjust receiving hours, carriers run reduced schedules, and orders pile up either side of a long weekend. A little planning keeps stock on the shelf.
There are 11 national public holidays in 2026. Most people also get one regional anniversary day, so in total most workers get 12 public holidays.
Matariki is on Friday 10 July 2026, giving most people a three-day weekend.
Yes. ANZAC Day falls on Saturday 25 April 2026, so if you don’t normally work Saturdays it is observed on Monday 27 April.
Auckland Anniversary Day is Monday 26 January 2026.
Labour Day is Monday 26 October 2026. It is always the fourth Monday in October.
Christmas Day is Friday 25 December. Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December, so if you don’t normally work Saturdays it is observed on Monday 28 December.
See our New Zealand Public Holidays 2027 page for every 2027 date, including Matariki on Friday 25 June.
