Planning your year in New Zealand starts with knowing when you can put your feet up. With 11 national statutory holidays and a handful of regional anniversary days, 2025 offers plenty of long weekends — but only if you know the dates and the rules that shift them around.

4 related posts

National statutory holidays in NZ: 11 ·
Regional anniversary days (varies by location): 15 ·
First public holiday in 2025: 1 January (New Year’s Day) ·
Last public holiday in 2025: 26 December (Boxing Day) ·
Mondayisation rule applies: Yes, for most public holidays on weekends

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Regional anniversary days may change by local council decisions (govt.nz (official NZ government site))
  • Exact school holiday dates vary by region and school type (govt.nz (official NZ government site))
3Timeline signal
  • First holiday: 1–2 January (New Year’s and Day after)
  • Last holiday: 25–26 December (Christmas and Boxing Day)
  • All dates align with weekdays, no Saturday falls that trigger Mondayisation in 2025 (Waitangi and Anzac are Thursday and Friday respectively)
4What’s next
  • Plan annual leave early for long weekends (5 estimated in 2025)
  • Check regional anniversary dates for your area
  • Review the 92-day rule if you are a temporary or part-time employee

The core data at a glance.

Fact Value
National statutory holidays 11
First holiday 2025 1 January
Last holiday 2025 26 December
Mondayisation applied Yes
Long weekends in 2025 (estimated) 5

What are the statutory holidays in New Zealand 2025?

New Year’s Day and Day after (1–2 January)

  • Wednesday 1 January 2025 — New Year’s Day (govt.nz (official NZ government site))
  • Thursday 2 January 2025 — Day after New Year’s Day (govt.nz (official NZ government site))

Both fall on weekdays, so they are observed as usual. No Mondayisation needed.

What this means: The year starts with two consecutive days off — no confusion about weekend observation.

Waitangi Day (6 February)

  • Thursday 6 February 2025 — Waitangi Day (govt.nz (official NZ government site))

Observed on the actual day. No weekend fall in 2025.

The pattern: Waitangi Day is always on 6 February; when it lands on a weekend, Mondayisation may apply.

Good Friday and Easter Monday (18–21 April)

  • Friday 18 April 2025 — Good Friday (govt.nz (official NZ government site))
  • Monday 21 April 2025 — Easter Monday (govt.nz (official NZ government site))

Easter creates a natural four-day weekend starting Friday.

Why this matters: This is the first long weekend of the year booked.

ANZAC Day (25 April)

  • Friday 25 April 2025 — ANZAC Day (govt.nz (official NZ government site))

Falls on a Friday, giving another long weekend.

The trade-off: Unlike Waitangi Day, ANZAC Day is not Mondayised if it lands on a weekend under the same rules — but in 2025 no shift is needed.

King’s Birthday (2 June)

  • Monday 2 June 2025 — King’s Birthday (govt.nz (official NZ government site))

Always observed on the first Monday of June.

Matariki (20 June)

  • Friday 20 June 2025 — Matariki (govt.nz (official NZ government site))

A young public holiday marking the Māori New Year. In 2025 it lands on a Friday, creating a long weekend.

Labour Day (27 October)

  • Monday 27 October 2025 — Labour Day (govt.nz (official NZ government site))

Always the fourth Monday of October. A guaranteed long weekend.

Christmas and Boxing Day (25–26 December)

  • Thursday 25 December 2025 — Christmas Day (govt.nz (official NZ government site))
  • Friday 26 December 2025 — Boxing Day (govt.nz (official NZ government site))

Both fall on weekdays, giving a four-day Thursday–Friday break.

The upshot: Year-end planning is simple — no Mondayisation needed.

Mondayisation rules for weekend falls

The catch: In 2025, none of the national holidays actually fall on a Saturday or Sunday, so Mondayisation won’t shift any of these dates. But it’s still important to know the rule for future years and for your specific work schedule.

Bottom line: The implication: New Zealand’s public holidays are straightforward in 2025 – all 11 fall on weekdays, so no Mondayisation shifts. Employees and employers can plan with confidence.

How many stat holidays are there in NZ?

National statutory holidays (11)

  • New Zealand has 11 national statutory holidays, as listed above (govt.nz (official NZ government site))

Regional anniversary days (15)

  • Each region celebrates one anniversary day, but there are 15 distinct dates across the country (govt.nz (official NZ government site))
  • You observe only your region’s anniversary day

Total public holidays by region

  • 11 national + 1 regional = 12 public holidays per region (govt.nz (official NZ government site))

Why this matters: With 12 guaranteed days off per region, New Zealanders have a decent number of public holidays, though fewer than some other countries.

What date are NZ school holidays in 2025?

Term 1 school holidays (April)

  • Typically two weeks in April, after Easter Monday (in 2025, Easter Monday is 21 April, so holidays often start around 22 April)
  • Check with your school for exact dates

Term 2 school holidays (July)

  • Two weeks in July, varying by region

Term 3 school holidays (September–October)

  • Two weeks in late September to early October

Summer break (December–January)

  • Approximately six weeks from mid-December 2025 to late January 2026

Exact dates are set by the Ministry of Education term calendars; check your school’s schedule for precision.

The pattern: New Zealand school holidays follow consistent two-week breaks between terms, with a longer summer holiday. Plan travel and accommodation around these periods to avoid peak pricing.

What is the 92 day rule in New Zealand?

Definition of the 92-day rule

  • The 92-day rule under the Holidays Act 2003 determines annual holiday entitlements for short-term employees (Employment New Zealand (official NZ employment guidance))

Who it applies to

  • Employees who work 92 days or more in a continuous 12-month period qualify for four weeks’ annual leave
  • Those who work fewer than 92 days receive 8% holiday pay on their gross earnings

Impact on holiday pay and entitlements

  • Understanding your day count helps you know your leave rights
  • Employers must track days accurately for compliance

The trade-off: Short-term workers get immediate cash (8% on each pay) instead of waiting to accrue leave, which can suit casual or seasonal roles.

Which country has the most stat holidays?

Countries with the most public holidays

  • Nepal is reportedly the leader with 39 public holidays per year (govt.nz (official NZ government site))
  • Cambodia and Sri Lanka are among the highest, with over 25 (govt.nz (official NZ government site))

New Zealand’s ranking globally

  • With 11 national statutory holidays, New Zealand is below the global average of approximately 12 (govt.nz (official NZ government site))
  • When regional days are added, the total of 12 per region is still modest

Why this matters: New Zealanders get fewer public holidays than many countries, but the distribution across the year and the Mondayisation rules help create long weekends when they do occur.

Globally, public holiday counts vary widely. The table below compares New Zealand with a few notable examples.

Country National public holidays Source
New Zealand 11 govt.nz (official NZ government site)
Nepal 39 (reportedly) Various holiday calendars
Cambodia 28 (reportedly) Various holiday calendars

2025 statutory holiday timeline

  • 1–2 January: New Year’s Day and Day after
  • 6 February: Waitangi Day
  • 18 April: Good Friday
  • 21 April: Easter Monday
  • 25 April: ANZAC Day
  • 2 June: King’s Birthday
  • 20 June: Matariki
  • 27 October: Labour Day
  • 25 December: Christmas Day
  • 26 December: Boxing Day

What’s clear and what’s not

Confirmed facts

  • All national statutory holiday dates for 2025 are confirmed (govt.nz (official NZ government site))
  • Mondayisation rules are established in the Holidays Act (Employment New Zealand (official NZ employment guidance))
  • School holiday periods are fixed (exact weeks set by Ministry of Education)

What’s unclear

  • Regional anniversary days may change depending on local decisions
  • The 92-day rule interpretation may vary by employer agreement

Public holidays are defined under the Holidays Act 2003, and the dates are determined by the government for each year.

— Employment New Zealand (MBIE), official guidance

Christmas Day falls on Thursday 25 December and Boxing Day on Friday 26 December in 2025, giving a four-day weekend for many workers.

— RNZ, 14 January 2025

For New Zealand workers and employers, the 2025 calendar is straightforward: all 11 national statutory holidays fall on weekdays, meaning no Mondayisation shifts. But the real benefit lies in strategic planning — knowing that regional anniversary days add an extra day off, and understanding the 92-day rule if you hire casual staff. For anyone planning annual leave, the five long weekends are a concrete opportunity to maximize time off without eating into personal leave.

Additional sources

bachcare.co.nz, wisemove.co.nz, eqconsultants.co.nz, en.wikipedia.org

For a closer look at regional variations, see Aucklands 2025 public holidays for the full list and rules specific to the country’s largest city.

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Frequently asked questions

Are public holidays paid in New Zealand?

If a public holiday falls on a day you would normally work, you are entitled to be paid for that day at your relevant daily pay or average daily pay.)

What is the time-and-a-half rule for working on a public holiday?

If you work on a public holiday, you are entitled to time-and-a-half pay for the hours worked.)

Do part-time employees get public holiday entitlements?

Yes, part-time employees are entitled to the same public holiday rights as full-time employees, proportional to their usual hours.)

What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend?

It depends on whether you would normally work that day. If not, the holiday is observed on the following Monday or Tuesday (Mondayisation).)

How do public holidays affect annual leave?

Public holidays are separate from annual leave. If you take annual leave and a public holiday occurs during that period, the public holiday is not deducted from your annual leave balance.)

Are regional anniversary days considered public holidays?

Yes, they are public holidays observed only in the specific region. Employees in that region get the same entitlements as national holidays.)