Public holidays 2025: All the dates you need to know (and how to make the most of them)

By RNZ

Back at work and already looking ahead to your next break?

Here are the key dates to be aware of for 2025 - and how you can use the least amount of annual leave for the longest period off across the year.

Waitangi Day 2025

Waitangi Day falls on a Thursday, so by using one annual leave day on Friday, February 7, you’ll get a four-day weekend.

Easter Weekend and Anzac Day 2025

These fall in the same week this year so by booking annual leave for April 14-17 and 22-24, you’ll use seven days of annual leave but get 16 days off work.

Matariki 2025

Take four days of annual leave June 16-19 and you’ll have nine days out of the office.

Christmas and New Year 2025/26

Already thinking ahead to next summer? Christmas Day and Boxing Day, as well as the New Year’s statutory holidays, fall on a Thursday and Friday in 2025.

Use those stat days, and six days of annual leave, to take off December 22, 23, and 24, with December 29, 30, and 31to get a 16-day stretch of time off work.

When are the public and anniversary holidays in 2025?

• New Year’s Day - January 1
• Day after New Year’s Day - January 2
• Wellington Anniversary - January 20
• Auckland Anniversary - January 27
• Nelson Anniversary - February 3
• Waitangi Day - February 6
• Taranaki Anniversary - March 10
• Otago Anniversary - March 24
• Good Friday - April 18
• Easter Monday - April 21
• Southland Anniversary - April 22
• Anzac Day - April 25
• King’s Birthday - June 2
• Matariki - June 20
• South Canterbury Anniversary - September 22
• Hawke’s Bay Anniversary - October 24
• Labour Day - October 27
• Marlborough Anniversary - November 3
• Canterbury Anniversary - November 14
• Chatham Islands Anniversary and Westland Anniversary - December 1
• Christmas Day - December 25
• Boxing Day - December 26

What about school terms?

While exact start dates for individual schools differ, Term 1 starts between Monday, January 27 and Friday, February 7 (at the latest).

• Term 1: 11 weeks long, with the last day being April 11.
• Term 2: Nine weeks. Begins April 28 and ends June 27, and includes two public holidays; King’s Birthday on Monday, June 2 and Matariki on Friday, June 20.
• Term 3: 10 weeks. Begins July 14 and ends September 19. There are no public holidays in Term 3.
• Term 4: Begins October 6 and ends December 19 and includes the Labour Day public holiday on October 27.

When are the term one school holidays?

The first lot of school holidays run from April 12-27 and include Easter, and Anzac Day.

- RNZ

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