NZ Public Holidays 2027
The 11 national public holidays for 2027 with their observed dates, including Matariki, the holidays that fall on a weekend and may move to a Monday or Tuesday, and the anniversary day for each region.
Matariki 2027
Friday 25 June
Set by Schedule 1 of the Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022. Day after New Year's Day, Waitangi Day, ANZAC Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day fall on a weekend in 2027; the tables below show both dates.
National public holidays in 2027
Where a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the table shows the weekend day and the date it moves to for an employee who would not have worked that day.
| Holiday | Date | Observed |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January | Friday 1 January |
| Day after New Year's Day | 2 January | Saturday 2 January or Monday 4 January Weekend |
| Waitangi Day | 6 February | Saturday 6 February or Monday 8 February Weekend |
| Good Friday | Varies | Friday 26 March |
| Easter Monday | Varies | Monday 29 March |
| ANZAC Day | 25 April | Sunday 25 April or Monday 26 April Weekend |
| King's Birthday | 1st Monday in June | Monday 7 June |
| Matariki | Varies | Friday 25 June |
| Labour Day | 4th Monday in October | Monday 25 October |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Saturday 25 December or Monday 27 December Weekend |
| Boxing Day | 26 December | Sunday 26 December or Tuesday 28 December Weekend |
Holidays on a weekend: how Mondayisation works
Day after New Year's Day, Waitangi Day, ANZAC Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day fall on a Saturday or Sunday in 2027. What happens next depends on whether the weekend day is one the employee would otherwise have worked.
- If the weekend day would be a working day for the employee, the public holiday stays on that day.
- If it would not be a working day, the holiday is Mondayised. Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and the day after move to the following Monday when they fall on a Saturday and the following Tuesday when they fall on a Sunday (Holidays Act 2003 s 45). Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day move to the following Monday from either weekend day (s 45A).
That is why Boxing Day is observed on Tuesday 28 December and not Monday 27 December: Christmas Day takes the Monday. Employment New Zealand has a Mondayisation tool and a page on what an employee gets when a public holiday falls on a weekend.
Matariki 2027
Matariki has no fixed calendar date. The Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022 lists the observance date for each year in Schedule 1, and the date for 2027 is Friday 25 June 2027. It is a Friday, so it does not move.
Regional anniversary days in 2027
Each area has its own anniversary day, observed locally. Employment New Zealand notes its list may contain unintentional errors and recommends checking the date with your local council.
| Area | Anniversary | Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 29 January | Monday 1 February |
| Taranaki | 31 March | Monday 8 March |
| Hawke's Bay | 1 November | Friday 22 October |
| Wellington | 22 January | Monday 25 January |
| Marlborough | 1 November | Monday 1 November |
| Nelson | 1 February | Monday 1 February |
| Canterbury | 16 December | Friday 12 November |
| Canterbury (South) | 16 December | Monday 27 September |
| Westland | 1 December | Monday 29 November |
| Otago | 23 March | Monday 22 March |
| Southland | 17 January | Tuesday 30 March |
| Chatham Islands | 30 November | Monday 29 November |
Anniversary days are generally observed on the Monday nearest the actual day. Employment New Zealand lists these exceptions:
- Taranaki: Moves to 2nd Monday in March to avoid Easter.
- Hawke's Bay: Moves to Friday before Labour Day.
- Marlborough: Observed 1st Monday after Labour Day.
- Canterbury: Northern and Central Canterbury areas observe Christchurch Show Day (the second Friday after the first Tuesday in November). South Canterbury observes Dominion Day, the 4th Monday in September.
- Southland: Normally observed on Easter Tuesday.
Working on a public holiday
Employment New Zealand states that an employee cannot be paid less than time and a half for working on a public holiday. Under section 56 of the Holidays Act 2003, an employee who works on a public holiday that falls on an otherwise working day is also entitled to an alternative holiday, a paid day off taken later.
The holiday pay calculator works out public holiday pay for a worked or unworked holiday.
Frequently asked questions
When is Matariki in 2027?
Matariki is observed on Friday 25 June 2027. The date is set in Schedule 1 of the Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022, which lists the Matariki public holiday date for each year.
How many public holidays are there in NZ in 2027?
There are 11 national public holidays in 2027: New Year's Day, Day after New Year's Day, Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, King's Birthday, Matariki, Labour Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day. Each region also has one anniversary day, which is counted separately.
Which 2027 public holidays fall on a weekend?
Day after New Year's Day, Waitangi Day, ANZAC Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day all fall on a Saturday or Sunday in 2027. For an employee who would not have worked that weekend day, Christmas Day is observed on Monday 27 December and Boxing Day on Tuesday 28 December. Waitangi Day moves to Monday 8 February and ANZAC Day to Monday 26 April.
What is Mondayisation?
Mondayisation is the moving of a public holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday to the following Monday, or in some cases Tuesday. It applies to an employee who would not otherwise have worked on that weekend day. An employee who would have worked the Saturday or Sunday keeps the holiday on that day.
Why is Boxing Day observed on a Tuesday in 2027?
Christmas Day falls on a Saturday and Boxing Day on a Sunday. Under section 45 of the Holidays Act 2003, a Saturday holiday moves to the following Monday and a Sunday holiday to the following Tuesday, so the two holidays are observed on Monday 27 December and Tuesday 28 December for an employee who would not have worked the weekend.
What do you get for working a public holiday?
Employment New Zealand states that you cannot be paid less than time and a half for working on a public holiday. If the holiday falls on a day you would otherwise have worked, you are also entitled to an alternative holiday under section 56 of the Holidays Act 2003.
Are regional anniversary days public holidays?
Yes. The anniversary of a province, or the day locally observed as that day, is the last public holiday listed in section 44 of the Holidays Act 2003. Each area's date is set locally, so Employment New Zealand advises checking with your local council for the most reliable date.
Sources
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