News Article

latest news in employment law

Public Holiday Schedule for 2015


Published 01 Oct 2014

New Zealand Public Holidays

Actual Date

2014

Christmas Day

25 December

Thursday 25 December

Boxing Day

26 December

Friday 26 December



2015

New Year's Day

1 January

Thursday 1 January

Day Following

2 January

Friday 2 January

Waitangi Day

6 February

Friday 6 February

Good Friday

Varies

Friday 3 April

Easter Monday

Varies

Monday 6 April

ANZAC Day

25 April

Monday 27 April

Queen's Birthday

1st Monday in June

Monday 1 June

Labour Day

4th Monday in October

Monday 26 October

Christmas Day

25 December

Friday 25 December

Boxing Day

26 December

 Monday 28 December

New Zealand Provincial Holidays

Actual Date

2015

Auckland

29 January

Monday 26 January

Taranaki

31 March

Monday 9 March

Hawke's Bay

1 November

Friday 23 October

Wellington

22 January

Monday 19 January

Marlborough

1 November

Monday 2 November

Nelson

1 February

Monday 2 February

Canterbury

16 December

Friday 13 November

South Canterbury

16 December

Monday 28 September

Westland

1 December

Monday 30 November

Otago

23 March

Monday 23 March

Southland


Tuesday 7 April

Chatham Islands

30 November

Mon 30 November


Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day & 2 January Holiday

These public holidays are observed on the actual day when they fall on a weekday.

When they fall on a Saturday or Sunday: 

*    if the employee would normally have worked on the Saturday /Sunday, the public holiday is observed on the Saturday/Sunday;

*    if the employee would not normally have worked on the Saturday/Sunday, the public holiday is observed on the following Monday/Tuesday.

Waitangi and ANZAC Days

The public holidays for ANZAC Day and Waitangi Day are "Mondayised" if they fall on a Saturday or Sunday.

Provincial Anniversary Days

These are generally observed on the Monday nearest to the actual day.

Provinces

These relate to the former Provinces of 19th Century New Zealand and are not related to or determined by present-day Districts or Regions.

Taranaki Anniversary Day

Moves to 2nd Monday in March to avoid Easter.

Hawkes Bay Anniversary Day

Moved to Friday before Labour Day.

Marlborough Anniversary Day

Observed 1st Monday after Labour Day.

Canterbury Anniversary

Northern & Central Canterbury areas observe Christchurch Show Day. The definition for the Canterbury Anniversary Day celebration as decided by Christchurch City is the second Friday after the first Tuesday in November each year. South Canterbury observes Dominion Day, the 4th Monday in September.

Westland

Varies throughout Westland, but Greymouth observes the official day.

Otago Anniversary

As there is no easily determined single day of local observance for Otago or Southland then the parties should rely on either their employment agreement or their own custom and practice. Where there is no clear custom and practice then the parties should seek to find an agreement on how they will observe Anniversary day.

If the parties are unhappy with how this matter has been handled in their workplace they can seek assistance from a Labour Inspector, or if they require help to settle agreement in their workplace they can seek assistance from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment mediation service.

Southland Anniversary

Southland Anniversary Day is celebrated on Easter Tuesday. 



While these lists have been compiled from the information provided, in good faith, we can give no guarantees of accuracy.

For more information on this and Holidays in general see the "Annual Holidays and Leave" ebook. This provides in depth information on Annual Holidays (leave and holiday pay), Public Holidays, Sick and Bereavement Leave, explanations of Relevant Daily Pay, Average Daily Pay, Gross Earnings, Ordinary Weekly Pay etc.

It is available for purchasing and downloading from annual-holidays-and-leave-product.aspx. It is free for Employer Support Package subscribers who can download it from the Dashboard Library section of the employers toolbox(www.EmployersToolbox.co.nz)