New Zealand’s work life-balance is a big attraction for many expats and returning Kiwis relocating to Aotearoa. Public holidays occur throughout the year so there are lots of long weekends to play with.
In this blog we outline the stories behind our public holidays, and tips on how canny Kiwis strategically combine public holidays and a few days leave to gain extra weeks holiday time each year.
What are our public holidays?
Christmas Day and Boxing Day, 25-26 December
Christmas has been celebrated as a tradition in New Zealand since European settlers arrived in the country bringing Christianity. Usually families and friends spend Christmas Day together at the beach, share food and presents, or go to a church service.
The Boxing Day holiday is named after the English tradition where employers gave bonuses such as money, food or clothes - in a box. These days, the 26 December is known for shops pitching their sales with great deals.
New Year’s Day and the day after, 1-2 January
The first day of the Gregorian calendar, 1 January, falls exactly one week after the previous year’s Christmas Day. It is a public holiday in New Zealand, so is 2 January, the Day after New Year.
With New Zealand being one of the first countries in the world to see the sunrise and start a new day, it feels quite special to be the first one to greet a new year!
Good Friday and Easter Monday
In Christian tradition Good Friday and Easter Monday are important dates as they commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Together they form a four-day weekend, which Kiwis typically use to go on a short trip or visit family in other parts of the country.
The actual dates vary each year and due to the March equinox their determination is a bit technical, but basically the weekend following the first full moon after the beginning of autumn (spring in the Northern Hemisphere) is the Easter weekend.
This year, Good Friday will be on 15 April, followed by Easter Monday on 18 April.
Labour Day, 4th Monday of October
In New Zealand, Labour Day was first marked in 1890 with parades of workers in the main city centers celebrating their right to an 8-hour working day.
Nowadays Kiwis enjoy it as the first public holiday as we come out of winter. It’s also the traditional time to start planting your vege garden!
Regional Anniversary Holidays (varies by region)
Each provincial district has its own individual anniversary day celebrating the first settlers and colonists. The individual dates vary and are spread throughout the year. Click here for specific dates.
Waitangi Day, 6 February
Waitangi Day commemorates the first signing of New Zealand’s founding document: Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) on 6 February 1840. It is recognised as New Zealand’s national day, when the Partnership between Maori and the Crown was formalised. In recent years the style and mood of commemorating Waitangi Day have been influenced by a debate around the place of the Treaty in modern New Zealand. Currently, the formal celebrations take place at Waitangi, north of Auckland, and many cities and local iwi (tribe) also hold public festivals.
ANZAC Day, 25 April
ANZAC Day is marked with somber dawn services that remember the 1915 dawn landing of WWI ANZAC (Australia New Zealand Army Corps) troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula (Turkey) for the Gallipoli Campaign, which resulted in significant ANZAC casualties. Although the day has roots in this one particular battle, ANZAC Day has evolved into a day of national pride, honouring all New Zealanders who have served in wars overseas.
Queen’s Birthday, 1st Monday of June
As part of the British Commonwealth, we celebrate the Queen’s birthday annually. Fun fact: The Queen’s actual birthday is on 21 April.
Matariki Day, mid-winter from late May to early July
Matariki is the Maori New Year, named for the stars that are visible during Tangaroa, the moon of plenty. Each star holds significance relating to wellbeing and the environment. Because observance is tied to the Maori lunar year, the date on the European calendar varies each year.
Friday 24 June 2022 will be the first public holiday to celebrate Matariki. For more information on Matariki, click here.
How to get extra holiday time
Tip 1- Monday-ised holidays…
When a holiday falls on the weekend the following Monday is designated as the day off work. So if you take Tues-Fri as leave you achieve 9 days out of the office - plenty of time to explore a distant part of the country, travel to Australia or the Pacific Islands (COVID permitting) or take a decent road trip.
Tip 2 - Link up public holidays
The Christmas + New Year break has potential to give you over 2 weeks of holiday depending on when the holidays fall.
For example if Christmas Day/Boxing Day and New Years Day/2 January fall on a weekends, that means the Monday and Tuesday of each week are holidays so you only need to add in 6 days leave (to cover the Wed/Thurs/Fri) of each week and you’ll be away from work for a total of 16 days.
Happy planning and safe travels,
Your Mobile Team
Mobile Relocation connects you with what you need to thrive in New Zealand. Contact us today to talk about how we can carry your relocation burden.
Bridget is a New Zealander who has lived and worked as a diplomat in Singapore and India. After experiencing all facets of the relocation experience, she founded Mobile to work with private individuals moving to NZ and leading local and international businesses bringing in offshore talent. bridget@mobile-relocation.com
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