Planning your year ahead? This comprehensive guide covers every public holiday in New Zealand for 2026, including national statutory holidays, regional anniversary days, and important mondayisation rules that affect when holidays are observed.
Quick Reference: All NZ Public Holidays 2026
National Public Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Day | Mondayised |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January 2026 | Thursday | No |
| Day after New Year's Day | 2 January 2026 | Friday | No |
| Waitangi Day | 6 February 2026 | Friday | No |
| Good Friday | 3 April 2026 | Friday | No |
| Easter Monday | 6 April 2026 | Monday | No |
| ANZAC Day | 25 April 2026 | Saturday | Yes (observed 27 April) |
| King's Birthday | 1 June 2026 | Monday | No |
| Matariki | 10 July 2026 | Friday | No |
| Labour Day | 26 October 2026 | Monday | No |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 | Friday | No |
| Boxing Day | 26 December 2026 | Saturday | Yes (observed 28 December) |
Total National Public Holidays: 11 days
Note: In 2026, ANZAC Day and Boxing Day fall on Saturday and are observed on the following Monday for Monday-to-Friday workers.
Understanding Mondayisation Rules
What is Mondayisation?
Mondayisation ensures that employees who don't normally work weekends still get their entitled day off when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. The holiday is "moved" to the following Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is already a public holiday).
Which Holidays Can Be Mondayised?
- Waitangi Day (6 February)
- ANZAC Day (25 April) - but only if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday
- Christmas Day (25 December)
- Boxing Day (26 December)
- New Year's Day (1 January)
- Day after New Year's Day (2 January)
2026 Mondayisation Status
Mondayisation is required in 2026 for ANZAC Day and Boxing Day, which both fall on Saturday.
Regional Anniversary Days 2026
Each region in New Zealand observes its own anniversary day as an additional public holiday. Here are the dates for 2026:
North Island
| Region | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 26 January 2026 | Monday |
| Wellington | 19 January 2026 | Monday |
| Taranaki | 9 March 2026 | Monday |
| Hawke's Bay | 23 October 2026 | Friday |
South Island
| Region | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Canterbury | 13 November 2026 | Friday |
| Otago | 23 March 2026 | Monday |
| Southland | 7 April 2026 | Tuesday |
| Marlborough | 2 November 2026 | Monday |
| Nelson | 2 February 2026 | Monday |
| Westland | 7 December 2026 | Monday |
| South Canterbury | 28 September 2026 | Monday |
Special Territories
| Territory | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Chatham Islands | 30 November 2026 | Monday |
Total Working Days in 2026
By Region
The total number of working days varies by region due to anniversary holidays:
- No anniversary region: 250 working days
- Most regions: 249 working days (250 minus 1 anniversary day)
Monthly Breakdown (National Holidays Only)
| Month | Working Days | Public Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| January | 20 | 2 (New Year period) |
| February | 19 | 1 (Waitangi Day) |
| March | 22 | 0 |
| April | 19 | 3 (Good Friday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day observed) |
| May | 21 | 0 |
| June | 21 | 1 (King's Birthday) |
| July | 22 | 1 (Matariki) |
| August | 21 | 0 |
| September | 22 | 0 |
| October | 21 | 1 (Labour Day) |
| November | 21 | 0 |
| December | 21 | 2 (Christmas, Boxing Day observed) |
Special Holiday Notes for 2026
Matariki Holiday
Date: Friday, 10 July 2026
Matariki, New Zealand's newest public holiday, celebrates the Maori New Year. The date varies each year based on the lunar calendar and the rising of the Matariki star cluster (Pleiades). The 2026 date was officially set by the Matariki Advisory Committee.
ANZAC Day Observance
Date: Saturday, 25 April 2026 (observed Monday, 27 April)
ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday in 2026. For Monday-to-Friday workers, the public holiday is observed on Monday 27 April. Trading restrictions still apply on ANZAC Day itself (25 April) until 1:00 PM.
Christmas and New Year Period
Christmas Day (Friday, 25 December) falls on a weekday, while Boxing Day (Saturday, 26 December) is observed on Monday 28 December. This creates a four-day break for Monday-to-Friday workers when combined with the weekend.
Business Planning Considerations
Long Weekends in 2026
Natural long weekends created by public holidays:
- New Year Weekend: Thursday-Friday (1-2 January) + weekend
- Waitangi Weekend: Friday (6 February) + weekend
- Easter Weekend: Friday-Monday (3-6 April)
- ANZAC Observance Weekend: Saturday-Monday (25-27 April)
- King's Birthday Weekend: Monday (1 June) + weekend
- Matariki Weekend: Friday (10 July) + weekend
- Labour Day Weekend: Monday (26 October) + weekend
- Christmas/Boxing Weekend: Friday (25 December) + weekend + Boxing Day observed Monday (28 December)
Peak Holiday Periods
- Summer Holiday Period: Late December 2025 - early February 2026
- Easter Period: 3-6 April 2026
- Mid-Winter Break: Around Matariki (10 July 2026)
- Christmas/New Year: 25 December 2026 - 4 January 2027
Employee Entitlements and Pay
Public Holiday Pay Rules
When an employee works on a public holiday that would otherwise be a working day for them:
- Time and a half pay for the hours worked
- Alternative holiday (paid day off to be taken later)
Note: If an employee works on a public holiday that is not normally a working day for them (e.g., a Monday-Friday worker working on a Saturday public holiday), they receive time and a half pay but do NOT get an alternative holiday.
Alternative Holiday Entitlements
If a public holiday falls on an employee's regular working day but they don't work, they get:
- Regular pay for the public holiday
- No alternative holiday (the public holiday itself was their entitlement)
Regional Anniversary Considerations
Employees are entitled to the anniversary day of the region where they work, not where they live. This is particularly relevant for:
- Cross-border workers (e.g., living in Canterbury but working in Otago)
- Companies with multiple locations
- Remote workers (entitled to the anniversary of their workplace location)
Planning Tools and Resources
Using Our Working Day Calculator
Our calculator is pre-loaded with all 2026 public holidays and regional anniversaries. You can:
- Calculate exact working days between any two dates
- Include or exclude specific regional anniversaries
- Account for summer shutdown periods
- Generate reports for payroll and planning
Try the calculator with 2026 holidays pre-loaded →
Key Planning Dates
Mark these important dates for business planning:
- 31 March 2026: End of financial year for many businesses
- 25 April 2026: ANZAC Day (trading restrictions until 1 PM)
- 10 July 2026: Matariki (newest public holiday)
- 27 September 2026: Daylight Saving starts (start of summer hours)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all employees get regional anniversary days off?
Employees are entitled to the anniversary day of the region where they work. If your business operates in multiple regions, employees in different locations may have different anniversary days.
What happens if I work on a public holiday?
You're entitled to time and a half pay plus an alternative holiday (paid day off) to be taken later. This applies to all statutory public holidays and your regional anniversary day.
How are public holiday dates determined?
Most dates are fixed by legislation, but some (like Easter and Matariki) vary each year. Easter follows lunar calculations, while Matariki dates are set by the Matariki Advisory Committee based on astronomical and cultural considerations.
Can regional anniversaries be mondayised?
No, regional anniversary days are not mondayised in the same way as national public holidays. Instead, most regions traditionally observe their anniversary on the "Monday nearest to" the actual anniversary date by historical custom. This is a different system from the statutory mondayisation rules that apply to the six national holidays (New Year's Day, Day after New Year's, Waitangi Day, ANZAC Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day).
What about school holidays?
School holidays are separate from public holidays and vary by school type (primary/intermediate vs. secondary). They don't affect general employment entitlements unless specifically mentioned in employment agreements.
Summary
2026 includes two Saturday public holidays (ANZAC Day and Boxing Day) that are observed on the following Monday, so planning for mondayisation matters this year. Businesses can expect:
- 11 national public holidays (2 observed on Monday)
- 1 regional anniversary per location (varies by region)
- 250 working days nationally (249 with anniversary)
- 8 natural long weekends created by holiday placement
Use our working day calculator to plan your year accurately, accounting for your specific region and any industry shutdown periods.
This guide is updated regularly to reflect any changes to public holiday dates or legislation. Last updated: December 2025.