New Zealand
New Zealand public holidays and festivals: dates and closures
New Zealand has 11 national public holidays; Waitangi Day (6 Feb) and ANZAC Day (25 Apr) are the two that most affect travel. Shops, cafés and tours largely stay open, but supermarkets, banks and some attractions close or run Sunday hours. Book ferries, Milford Sound cruises and Great Walks huts well ahead around Easter and the Christmas–New Year weeks.
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GuideNew Zealand
Key facts
- National public holidayscheck
- 11 per year (check)
- Dates that move
- Good Friday, Easter Monday, Queen's/King's Birthday (first Mon in Jun), Labour Day (fourth Mon in Oct)
- Fixed dates
- 1–2 Jan, 6 Feb, 25 Apr, 25 Dec
- Mondayisation
- If a fixed holiday falls on a weekend, the following Monday is the public holiday
- What closes
- Supermarkets, banks, government offices and some small shops; many cafés and tourist operators stay open
- Busiest travel weeks
- Late Dec–early Jan, Easter, and school holidays
- Booking lead time
- Book ferries, Milford cruises and Great Walks huts 1–3 months ahead for peak dates
Public holidays by month
New Zealand observes 11 national public holidays. Four fall on fixed dates, the rest move with the calendar. When a fixed holiday lands on a Saturday or Sunday, the public holiday is usually observed on the following Monday (Mondayisation).
Regional anniversary days add one extra holiday per province, on different dates; they matter mainly to locals and to some small businesses.
| Holiday | Date | Falls on |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January | Fixed |
| Day after New Year's Day | 2 January | Fixed |
| Waitangi Day | 6 February | Fixed |
| Good Friday | March or April | Moves with Easter |
| Easter Monday | March or April | Moves with Easter |
| ANZAC Day | 25 April | Fixed |
| King's Birthday | First Monday in June | Moves |
| Matariki | June or July | Moves (date set each year) |
| Labour Day | Fourth Monday in October | Moves |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Fixed |
| Boxing Day | 26 December | Fixed |
Matariki dates are set annually; check the official calendar for the current year (check).
What closes on public holidays
Most of what a visitor wants stays open. Cafés, restaurants, petrol stations, tour operators and many attractions trade through public holidays, often with Sunday or holiday hours and a surcharge of around 10–15% (2026 estimate).
Supermarkets, banks, government offices and some small independent shops close on Christmas Day, Good Friday and often Easter Sunday. On other public holidays they may open reduced hours. In smaller towns, more closes than in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.
Public transport runs a Sunday or reduced timetable on public holidays. InterCity buses and the Cook Strait ferries usually run, but seats sell out around long weekends.
- Christmas Day: most shops closed; some restaurants open by booking only
- Good Friday and Easter Sunday: many shops closed; tourist towns busier
- Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day: shops mostly open, ceremonies in the morning
- Regional anniversary days: closures vary by province
Festivals worth planning a trip around
New Zealand's festival calendar is spread across the year and the country. Summer (December–March) is the busiest, with outdoor music, food and arts events; winter has its own snow and light festivals in the south.
The events below are the ones most likely to shape a trip. Dates shift year to year, so confirm before booking flights.
| Festival | Typical time | Where | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waitangi Day commemorations | 6 February | Waitangi, Bay of Islands | The country's founding document is marked here; the biggest event of the year at the site |
| Pasifika Festival | March | Auckland | Pacific Island music, food and performance, one of the largest in the world |
| WOMAD | March | New Plymouth | Three-day world music festival in a park |
| NZ International Comedy Festival | April–May | Auckland and Wellington | Biggest comedy festival in the country |
| Matariki | June–July | Nationwide | Māori New Year; public holiday, dawn ceremonies and events |
| Queenstown Winter Festival | Late June | Queenstown | Opening of the ski season with street events and fireworks |
| New Zealand International Film Festival | July–August | Main cities | Touring film festival |
| Wellington on a Plate | August | Wellington | Food festival with burgers, events and set menus |
| World of WearableArt | September–October | Wellington | Large-scale wearable art show |
| Labour Weekend | Fourth Monday in October | Nationwide | Long weekend; many attractions and roads busy |
Dates and venues change; check each festival's official site before planning (check).
Booking and crowds around holidays
The Christmas–New Year period (roughly 20 December to 10 January) is the single busiest travel window. New Zealanders take summer holidays then, and domestic tourism fills campsites, motels and ferries. Book accommodation, the Cook Strait ferry and Milford Sound cruises one to three months ahead if you travel in this window.
Easter is the second crunch. Good Friday and Easter Monday make a four-day weekend, and school holidays often overlap. Great Walks huts and campsites on the Milford, Routeburn and Abel Tasman tracks release bookings on set dates and sell out within minutes for peak periods.
Outside these windows, and outside school holidays, you can often book a few days ahead. Shoulder months (March–April, October–November) give the best balance of weather and availability.
- Book ferries and Milford cruises 1–3 months ahead for late Dec–early Jan
- Great Walks huts: book the day bookings open for peak dates
- Long weekends: expect higher prices and full campsites
- Winter (June–August): ski towns busy, but other regions quiet
Practical notes for travellers
Public holidays do not stop travel, but they change opening hours and prices. Plan around the big ones and treat the rest as normal days with a few closures.
If a public holiday falls on a Monday, the preceding weekend is a long weekend and domestic travel peaks. Roads out of Auckland and Wellington are busy on the Friday evening and the Monday afternoon.
For driving rules and holiday traffic, see the driving page. For what to expect socially, see the etiquette page.
- Check supermarket hours in small towns on public holidays
- Expect a holiday surcharge in some cafés and restaurants
- Book intercity buses and ferries early on long weekends
- ANZAC Day morning services may close some shops until midday
Questions people ask
What are the public holidays in New Zealand?
New Zealand has 11 national public holidays: New Year's Day (1 Jan), Day after New Year's Day (2 Jan), Waitangi Day (6 Feb), Good Friday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day (25 Apr), King's Birthday (first Mon in Jun), Matariki (Jun–Jul), Labour Day (fourth Mon in Oct), Christmas Day (25 Dec) and Boxing Day (26 Dec).
Which festivals are worth planning a trip around in New Zealand?
Waitangi Day commemorations (6 Feb), Pasifika Festival in Auckland (March), WOMAD in New Plymouth (March), Queenstown Winter Festival (late June), Wellington on a Plate (August) and the World of WearableArt (September–October). Dates change, so check before booking.
What closes on public holidays in New Zealand?
Supermarkets, banks, government offices and some small shops close on Christmas Day, Good Friday and often Easter Sunday. Most cafés, restaurants, petrol stations and tourist attractions stay open, sometimes with reduced hours and a holiday surcharge.
Do shops open on Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day?
Most shops open on Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day, though some open later after morning ceremonies. In smaller towns more businesses may close. Supermarkets generally trade normal or reduced hours.
When is the busiest travel period in New Zealand?
Late December to early January, when New Zealanders take summer holidays, and the Easter long weekend. School holidays also push up demand. Book ferries, Milford Sound cruises and Great Walks huts one to three months ahead for these dates.
Is there a holiday surcharge in New Zealand?
Some cafés and restaurants add a surcharge of around 10–15% on public holidays to cover higher staff costs. It is usually noted on the menu or at the till.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check