This national overview identifies holiday occasions. Public holiday dates, substitute days and school calendars depend on the country or region. Use your jurisdiction calendar for closures and countdowns.
Choose your jurisdiction for public holidays, substitute dates, local exceptions and school calendars.
Christmas Day is a nationwide New Zealand public holiday observed on 25 December. The actual calendar date and an employee’s observed day can differ when statutory Mondayisation applies.
Eligible employees receive public-holiday protections when the day would otherwise be a working day. Weekend Christmas and Boxing dates transfer under the paired-holiday rules.
Additional and substitute dates are separate entries. Local and sector-only holidays apply only to the areas or institutions specified.
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Substitute · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Substitute · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Substitute · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Substitute · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Substitute · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Substitute · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Substitute · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Substitute · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Substitute · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Substitute · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Substitute · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Substitute · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked · Conditional entitlement
CONDITIONAL: actual date or transferred weekday depending on whether the weekend date is otherwise a working day. One entitlement, not two holidays; check your work pattern. Official source
Missing entries do not establish that a jurisdiction has no holiday. Check its calendar for pending official dates and local exceptions.
The holiday reflects the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus and a major summer family holiday. Its modern employment treatment comes from New Zealand public-holiday legislation.
Government offices generally close. Businesses may operate, and employees working an otherwise working public holiday receive statutory pay and alternative-holiday entitlements where applicable.
Bank branches generally close and payment processing can move to the next business day; digital services remain available.
State schools close for statutory holidays or scheduled term breaks. Families should verify term dates and local arrangements.
Christmas Day has highly limited transport during the summer peak. Confirm services for 25 December separately from the Mondayised employee holiday where applicable.
It is observed on 25 December, subject to statutory transfer rules where applicable.
Weekend Christmas and Boxing dates transfer under the paired-holiday rules.
Public-holiday pay and alternative-day rules depend on whether it is otherwise a working day.
New Zealand Ministry of Education: New Zealand Ministry of Education: school terms and holidays
Employment New Zealand: Employment New Zealand: actual or transferred holiday
Employment New Zealand: Employment New Zealand: public holidays and anniversary dates
New Zealand Government: New Zealand Government: legislated Matariki dates