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.
Regional calendars
Choose your jurisdiction for public holidays, substitute dates, local exceptions and school calendars.
About this calendar
New Year’s Day is a nationwide New Zealand public holiday observed on 1 January. The actual calendar date and an employee’s observed day can differ when statutory Mondayisation applies.
Coverage
Eligible employees receive public-holiday protections when the day would otherwise be a working day. When 1 January falls on a weekend, weekday entitlements transfer under the Holidays Act.
Dates and coverage by jurisdiction — 2028
Additional and substitute dates are separate entries. Local and sector-only holidays apply only to the areas or institutions specified.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Background
The holiday reflects the first day of the calendar year. Its modern employment treatment comes from New Zealand public-holiday legislation.
Workplaces
Government offices generally close. Businesses may operate, and employees working an otherwise working public holiday receive statutory pay and alternative-holiday entitlements where applicable.
Banks
Bank branches generally close and payment processing can move to the next business day; digital services remain available.
Schools
State schools close for statutory holidays or scheduled term breaks. Families should verify term dates and local arrangements.
Planning
Summer-holiday traffic is already high around 1 January. Check Cook Strait ferry, intercity road and airline schedules for both the calendar and observed workday.
Frequently asked questions
When is New Year’s Day in New Zealand?
It is observed on 1 January, subject to statutory transfer rules where applicable.
Can the observed date differ?
When 1 January falls on a weekend, weekday entitlements transfer under the Holidays Act.
What if an employee works?
Public-holiday pay and alternative-day rules depend on whether it is otherwise a working day.