Nobody wants to be the person who turns up to work on a public holiday. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or just trying to figure out when the shops will be closed, the 2025 New Zealand public holiday calendar holds a few practical surprises — including a relatively new holiday that’s already reshaping how the country marks time.

4 related posts

Public holidays in NZ 2025: 11 national dates plus regional anniversary days ·
Key addition: Matariki (Friday 20 June 2025) ·
Longest weekend period: Easter (18–21 April 2025) ·
Source: www.govt.nz – Employment New Zealand

Quick snapshot

1National Public Holidays 2025
2Regional Anniversary Days
3Employee Rights
  • Paid if would have worked (Employment New Zealand guidance)
  • Alternative holiday if worked (Employment New Zealand guidance)
  • Part-time pro-rata (Employment New Zealand guidance)
4Timeline signal
  • Newest holiday: Matariki (2022)
  • First holiday 2025: New Year’s Day (1 Jan)
  • Last holiday 2025: Boxing Day (26 Dec)

Eleven national holidays, one new tradition, and a set of regional variations that catch many off guard. Here’s what the numbers show at a glance.

The table below summarises the key figures for the 2025 public holiday calendar.

Label Value
Total national public holidays 2025 11
First holiday of 2025 New Year’s Day, 1 January
Last holiday of 2025 Boxing Day, 26 December
Newest public holiday Matariki (2022)
Why this matters

With Matariki only three years old as a public holiday, many employers still treat it as an afterthought. But the law is clear: Matariki carries the same statutory weight as Christmas Day. Businesses that schedule work on 20 June 2025 without proper pay calculations risk a complaint under the Holidays Act 2003.

What are the 11 public holidays in New Zealand in 2025?

List of national public holidays 2025

  • New Year’s Day – Wednesday 1 January 2025
  • Day after New Year’s Day – Thursday 2 January 2025
  • Waitangi Day – Thursday 6 February 2025
  • Good Friday – Friday 18 April 2025
  • Easter Monday – Monday 21 April 2025
  • Anzac Day – Friday 25 April 2025
  • King’s Birthday – Monday 2 June 2025
  • Matariki – Friday 20 June 2025
  • Labour Day – Monday 27 October 2025
  • Christmas Day – Thursday 25 December 2025
  • Boxing Day – Friday 26 December 2025

That’s the full list as confirmed by Employment New Zealand (official government agency). Note that all 11 are legislated under the Holidays Act 2003, meaning they apply uniformly across the country — unlike regional anniversary days, which vary.

Mondayisation rules for 2025

When a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the Mondayisation rule ensures employees who wouldn’t normally work that weekend get the following Monday off. According to Employment New Zealand (statutory regulator), this applies to six movable holidays: New Year’s Day, Day after New Year’s Day, Waitangi Day, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Good Friday, Easter Monday, King’s Birthday, Matariki, and Labour Day are fixed on their calendar dates.

The catch: if Mondayisation creates a conflict — say Anzac Day falls on a Saturday and the following Monday is also a public holiday — the entitlement can move to Tuesday. Simplified Law (New Zealand legal resource) explains that this scenario is rare but regulated for fairness.

The implication: in 2025, none of the movable holidays fall on a weekend, so Mondayisation won’t actually trigger. That means every listed date is observed exactly as shown on the calendar.

Is King’s Birthday a public holiday in NZ in 2025?

King’s Birthday date 2025

Yes, the King’s Birthday is a public holiday in New Zealand. In 2025 it falls on Monday 2 June, as confirmed by the government gazette via Employment New Zealand (official gazette). This date is treated identically to any other national public holiday for pay purposes — employees who work get time-and-a-half plus an alternative holiday; those who would have worked but don’t get paid their relevant daily pay.

Why is there a separate monarch birthday observance?

King Charles III has two birthdays: his actual birth date (14 November) and an official birthday celebrated in June in most Commonwealth realms, including New Zealand. The June date historically offered better weather for public celebrations. Australia observes the same convention with its King’s Birthday public holiday in June. New Zealand’s observance is set by the Employment New Zealand public holiday calendar and does not change for the monarch’s personal schedule.

The trade-off

For employees, the King’s Birthday means a three-day weekend. For employers, it’s a day when penalty rates apply — and unlike Matariki, it’s well understood by payroll systems. The practical difference between the two June holidays: King’s Birthday is a Monday (standard Mondayisation model), while Matariki is a Friday, which can disrupt weekly payroll cut-offs.

What this means: Employers should double-check payroll cut-off dates for the Friday Matariki holiday, as it lands in the middle of many weekly pay cycles and may require early processing.

What is the biggest holiday in New Zealand?

Most celebrated public holidays by participation

Christmas and Easter draw the largest participation across New Zealand, with travel, family gatherings, and retail closures more widespread than on any other holiday. Data from Employment New Zealand (government labour department) shows these two periods account for the highest rates of approved leave, though no single metric ranks one as definitively “biggest.”

Cultural significance of Matariki

Matariki — the Māori New Year — became a public holiday in 2022 and has grown rapidly in recognition. In 2025 it falls on Friday 20 June. While its observance rate is lower than Christmas or Easter across the general population, it holds deep cultural significance and is uniquely New Zealand. Unlike holidays inherited from British tradition, Matariki is indigenous, tied to the rising of the Pleiades star cluster, and marks a season of reflection and renewal.

The pattern: New Zealand’s holiday calendar reflects a shift from colonial imports to bicultural identity — but the “biggest” holiday remains the one where most Kiwis actually get time off with their families, which in practice is Christmas.

How many paid holidays are there in a year in NZ?

Minimum statutory paid public holidays

New Zealand law guarantees 11 paid national public holidays per year under the Holidays Act 2003. Employment New Zealand (statutory regulator) states that employees who would have worked on a public holiday and don’t must still be paid. If they work, they get at least time-and-a-half plus an alternative holiday.

Regional anniversary day entitlements

Regional anniversary days — such as Auckland Anniversary Day (Monday 27 January 2025) or Canterbury Anniversary Day (Friday 14 November 2025) — are also paid public holidays, but only for employees who live and work in that region. Wise Move (New Zealand relocation guide) lists each region’s date, which often falls on a Monday by convention rather than the actual historical anniversary.

Part-time workers receive pro-rata entitlements based on their regular work pattern. For example, a part-time employee who works Mondays only gets paid for every Monday public holiday, but not for a Thursday public holiday they wouldn’t normally work.

Why this matters: the difference between 11 and potentially 12–14 paid holidays (depending on your region) can be significant for budgeting annual leave and payroll planning.

Who has more public holidays, NZ or Australia?

Number comparison 2025

New Zealand has 11 national public holidays. Australia has 7 national public holidays, but each state and territory adds its own — meaning most Australians end up with 10–13 paid public holidays per year, slightly more than New Zealanders on average. Fair Work Ombudsman (Australian workplace regulator) confirms the seven national dates: New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

Reason for Australia fewer national public holidays

Australia’s federal structure leaves most public holiday determination to state governments. The result: Australia Day (26 January) is national, but Easter Tuesday, Labour Day, and the King’s Birthday vary significantly by state. In New Zealand, the Holidays Act 2003 centralises 11 dates, with regional anniversary days adding local flavour.

The catch: comparing raw numbers is misleading. An employee in Sydney gets more total paid public holidays than one in Auckland, but the distribution across the year is lumpier — New Zealand’s 11 are spread more evenly, while Australia’s state-specific days can cluster.

What are the Canterbury public holidays for 2025?

Canterbury Anniversary Day 2025

Canterbury Anniversary Day falls on Friday 14 November 2025. Wise Move (New Zealand public holiday resource) notes this date is unusual — most anniversary days fall on a Monday, but Canterbury’s is a Friday, which creates a long weekend but also means the region’s holiday period differs from neighbouring areas.

South Canterbury Anniversary Day 2025

South Canterbury Anniversary Day is Monday 22 September 2025 (listed as Canterbury South in some sources). This is a separate observation for the southern part of the Canterbury region, governed by Employment New Zealand (regional holiday schedule).

Provincial holiday impact on work

Regional anniversary days only apply to employees working in that area. An employee in Christchurch gets Canterbury Anniversary Day off; an employee in Auckland does not. Employers with multiple sites must track which region each employee is in. Unlike national holidays, regional days are not Mondayised — if they fall on a weekend, they’re observed on the nearest Monday by convention, but there’s no statutory entitlement to a substitute day.

The pattern: Canterbury’s November Friday creates a longer gap between Waitangi Day (February) and the next regional holiday, meaning Christchurch workers have a hard stretch of nine months with only national holidays — something employers should factor into leave planning.

What this means for Canterbury employees: With only national holidays between February and November, workers in the region should plan annual leave carefully to avoid a long stretch without a day off.

When is Labour Day 2025 and Easter 2025 in New Zealand?

Labour Day 2025 date

Labour Day 2025 is Monday 27 October. Employment New Zealand (official holiday schedule) confirms this date. Labour Day is always observed on the fourth Monday of October, a fixed rule that makes it easy to predict years ahead.

Easter 2025 full weekend schedule

Easter 2025 runs from Good Friday 18 April to Easter Monday 21 April. Easter Tuesday (22 April) is not a public holiday in New Zealand, though some businesses close voluntarily. Wise Move (New Zealand public holiday data) lists the full four-day stretch as the longest consecutive public holiday period of 2025.

The trade-off: Easter’s dominance as a four-day weekend makes it a peak travel period, but also means higher penalty rates for hospitality and retail staff who work. For employers, the April cluster of Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Anzac Day (25 April) in the same week creates a payroll challenge — three public holidays in eight days.

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

  • All 11 national public holidays dates as per Employment New Zealand (statutory regulator)
  • King’s Birthday on Monday 2 June 2025
  • Matariki is Friday 20 June 2025
  • Mondayisation applies to six movable holidays under the Holidays Act 2003
  • Regional anniversary days vary by province

What’s unclear

  • Exact Mondayisation outcome until final confirmation near date (2025 has no weekend falls, so it’s moot)
  • Some provincial anniversary days are observed on dates that are not the actual anniversary date

Timeline signal

  • 1 January 2025 – New Year’s Day
  • 2 January 2025 – Day after New Year’s Day
  • 6 February 2025 – Waitangi Day
  • 18 April 2025 – Good Friday
  • 21 April 2025 – Easter Monday
  • 25 April 2025 – Anzac Day
  • 2 June 2025 – King’s Birthday
  • 20 June 2025 – Matariki
  • 27 October 2025 – Labour Day
  • 25 December 2025 – Christmas Day
  • 26 December 2025 – Boxing Day

“Mondayisation ensures that when a public holiday falls on a weekend, employees who would not normally work that day still get a paid day off on the next working day.”

— Employment New Zealand (official government guidance)

“Regional anniversary days are not governed by the same Mondayisation rule as the national movable holidays.”

— Working Day Calculator (New Zealand compliance tool)

For New Zealand employers and employees alike, the 2025 public holiday calendar offers clarity: 11 fixed dates, no weekend falls triggering Mondayisation, and regional variations that require local knowledge. The pattern is straightforward compared to other years — but the introduction of Matariki at a Friday date (20 June) and Canterbury’s Friday anniversary (14 November) mean payroll systems and leave calendars should be double-checked now, not in April when Easter hits. For the employee planning their annual leave, the choice is clear: book around Easter and Matariki for maximum long weekends, or wait until the regional anniversary day if you’re in Canterbury or Southland.

Related reading: New Zealand Public Holidays · Mondayisation Rules NZ Public Holidays

Additional sources

qppstudio.net, publicholiday.co.nz, publicholidays.org.nz, southernscope.nz, en.wikipedia.org, teara.govt.nz, employmenthero.com, eqconsultants.co.nz

For a more detailed breakdown of each holiday and its observance rules, check out the 2025 NZ public holidays guide.

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Frequently asked questions

What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend?

For six movable holidays (New Year’s Day, Day after New Year’s Day, Waitangi Day, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day), Mondayisation applies: employees who wouldn’t normally work the weekend get the following Monday off. In 2025, no national holiday falls on a weekend, so Mondayisation won’t activate.

Do I get paid if I work on a public holiday?

Yes. Under the Holidays Act 2003, if you work on a public holiday you must receive at least time-and-a-half for the hours worked, plus an alternative holiday (a paid day off later).

Are regional anniversary days paid public holidays?

Yes, but only for employees who live and work in that region. If you’re based in Canterbury, you get Canterbury Anniversary Day off; if you’re in Auckland, you don’t. They are not Mondayised.

Is Matariki a public holiday in every region?

Yes. Matariki is a national public holiday observed everywhere in New Zealand, same as Christmas or Waitangi Day.

How many public holidays does a part-time worker get?

Part-time workers get paid public holidays only for days they would normally work. For example, a part-time employee who works Tuesdays and Thursdays gets paid for Waitangi Day (Thursday 6 Feb) but not for Good Friday (Friday 18 April).

Do public holidays count as annual leave?

No. Public holidays are separate from annual leave. You get them as additional paid days off. Annual leave is your four weeks’ minimum entitlement on top.

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