Employment Relations FAQs
ask a question.
       
 
find out about:
holidays on-line tool
annual holidays
public holidays
NZ public holiday dates
2001-2002
2003-2005
2006-2009
2010-2013
2014-2016
iCalendar feeds
sick & bereavement leave
transition from 1981 Act to 2003 Act
before 1 Apr 2004:
holidays act 1981

NZ public holiday dates 2010-2013

 
 
Get a printer-friendly fact sheet of this page.

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

Some entries appear as links. Clicking on the link will take you further down the page to an explanation of why a holiday has two dates.

  Actual Date 2010 2011 2012 2013
New Years Day 1 January Friday 1 January Saturday 1 January or Monday 3 January Sunday 1 January or Tuesday 3 January Tuesday 1 January
Day after New Years Day 2 January

Saturday 2 January or Monday 4 January

Sunday 2 January or Tuesday 4 January

Monday 2 Jan

Wednesday 2 January

Waitangi Day 6 February

Saturday 6 February

Sunday 6 February

Monday 6 Feb

Wednesday 6 February

Good Friday varies

Friday 2 April

Friday 22 April

Friday 6 April

Friday 29 March

Easter Monday varies

Monday 5 April

Monday 25 April

Monday 9 April

Monday 1 April

ANZAC Day 25 April

Sunday 25 April

Monday 25 April

Wednesday 25 April

Thursday 25 April

Queen's Birthday 1st Monday in June

Monday 7 June

Monday 6 June

Monday 4 June

Monday 3 June

Labour Day 4th Monday in October

Monday 25 October

Monday 24 October

Monday 22 October

Monday 28 October

Christmas Day 25 December

Saturday 25 December or Monday 27 December

Sunday 25 December or Tuesday 27 December

Tuesday 25 December

Wednesday 25 December

Boxing Day 26 December

Sunday 26 December or Tuesday 28 December

Monday 26 December

Wednesday 26 December

Thursday 26 December

and the Anniversary Day of the Province in which an employee works, observed as follows:

Province Actual Date 2010 2011 2012 2013
Auckland 29 January

Monday 1 February

Monday 31 January

Monday 30 January

Monday 28 January

Taranaki 31 March

Monday 8 March

Monday 14  March

Monday 12 March

Monday 11 March

Hawkes' Bay 1 November

Friday 22 October

Friday 21 October

Friday 19 October

Friday 25 October

Wellington 22 January

Monday 25 January

Monday 24 January

Monday 23 January

Monday 21 January

Marlborough 1 November

Monday 1 November

Monday 31 October

Monday 29 October

Monday 4 November

Nelson 1 February

Monday 1 February

Monday 31 January

Monday 30 January

Monday 4 February

Canterbury 16 December

Friday 12 November

Friday 11 November

Friday 16 November

Friday 15 November

Canterbury (South) 16 December

Monday 27 September

Monday 26 September

Monday 24 September

Monday 23 September

Westland 1 December

Monday 29 November

Monday 5 December

Monday 3 December

Monday 2 December

Otago 23 March

Monday 22 March

Monday 21 March

Monday 26 March

Monday 25 March

Southland 17 January

Monday 18 January

Monday 17 January

Monday 16 January

Monday 21 January

Chatham Islands 30 November

Monday 29 November

Monday 28 November

Monday 3 December

Monday 2 December


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 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 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 Department's mediation service.
Easter Easter dates confirmed by Catholic Church.

back to top

This page was last updated on: 26-Nov-2008 and is current.


home | holidays | pay | good faith | union matters | education & training | fact sheets | publications | parental leave | employment agreements | problem solving | collective bargaining

search our FAQs | sitemap | contact us | about this site | about ers | related sites | govt.nz

©2004 copyright | disclaimer | privacy statement | comment on this website | accessibility

Department of Labour.