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Public Holidays


Published 01 Nov 2011

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

New Zealand Public Holidays

Actual Date

2012

New Year's Day

1 January

Sun 1 Jan or Tue 3 Jan

Day Following

2 January

Mon 2 Jan

Waitangi Day

6 February

Mon 6 Feb

Good Friday

Varies

Fri 6 Apr

Easter Monday

Varies

Mon 9 Apr

Anzac Day

25 April

Wed 25 Apr

Queen's Birthday

1st Monday in June

Mon 4Jun

Labour Day

4th Monday in October

Mon 22 Oct

Christmas Day

25 December

Tue 25 Dec

Boxing Day

26 December

Wed 26 Dec

New Zealand Provincial Holidays

Actual Date

2012

Auckland

29 January

Mon 30 Jan

Taranaki

31 March

Mon 12 Mar

Hawke's Bay

1 November

Fri 19 Oct

Wellington

22 January

Mon 23 Jan

Marlborough

1 November

Mon 29 Oct

Nelson

1 February

Mon 30 Jan

Canterbury

16 December

Fri 16 Nov

South Canterbury

16 December

Mon 24 Sep

Westland

1 December

Mon 3 Dec

Otago

23 March

Mon 26 Mar

Southland

17 January

Mon 16 Jan

Chatham Islands

30 November

Mon 3 Dec


*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/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.

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 & Southland Anniversary Days

The actual date of Southland Anniversary day is not clear.