Find a regional anniversary day
NZ anniversary days 2026 and 2027: dates by region
Anniversary days 2026
| Region | Actual anniversary | Observed 2026 | School calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aucklandincludes Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Northland and Gisborne regions | (Thursday) | Term 1 start window (closed if your school has already opened) | |
| Taranaki | (Tuesday) | Term 1 (schools close) | |
| Hawke’s Bay | (Sunday) | Term 4 (schools close) | |
| Wellingtonincludes Manawatu and Whanganui regions | (Thursday) | Summer holidays | |
| Marlborough | (Sunday) | Term 4 (schools close) | |
| Nelsonincludes Tasman and Buller regions | (Sunday) | Term 1 start window (closed if your school has already opened) | |
| Canterbury | (Wednesday) | Term 4 (schools close) | |
| Canterbury (South) | (Wednesday) | Term 3 holidays | |
| Westland | (Tuesday) | Term 4 (schools close) | |
| Otago | (Monday) | Term 1 (schools close) | |
| Southland | (Saturday) | Term 1 holidays | |
| Chatham Islands | (Monday) | Term 4 (schools close) |
Regional anniversary holidays follow New Zealand’s former provinces, each with its own day of observance. The holiday applies within the relevant area rather than nationwide. Most are observed on the Monday nearest the actual anniversary, while several follow a different local custom. The tables group published observances by year, with notes where a simple rule does not capture local practice. Each region page adds the long weekend its day forms and where it sits in the school calendar. Before relying on a local date, check the council’s information, particularly where the published notes describe variation or an observance settled through agreement.
Anniversary days 2027
| Region | Actual anniversary | Observed 2027 | School calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aucklandincludes Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Northland and Gisborne regions | (Friday) | Term 1 start window (closed if your school has already opened) | |
| Taranaki | (Wednesday) | Term 1 (schools close) | |
| Hawke’s Bay | (Monday) | Term 4 (schools close) | |
| Wellingtonincludes Manawatu and Whanganui regions | (Friday) | Summer holidays | |
| Marlborough | (Monday) | Term 4 (schools close) | |
| Nelsonincludes Tasman and Buller regions | (Monday) | Term 1 start window (closed if your school has already opened) | |
| Canterbury | (Thursday) | Term 4 (schools close) | |
| Canterbury (South) | (Thursday) | Term 3 holidays | |
| Westland | (Wednesday) | Term 4 (schools close) | |
| Otago | (Tuesday) | Term 1 (schools close) | |
| Southland | (Sunday) | Term 1 (schools close) | |
| Chatham Islands | (Tuesday) | Term 4 (schools close) |
Awaiting official dates
2028: Employment New Zealand has not yet published these dates. They are marked as not yet published here until official dates are available.
How each region observes its day
In the words of Employment New Zealand:
Provincial anniversary days are generally observed on the Monday nearest to the actual day.
However, local custom and historical precedence can lead to observance on other days. Exceptions are listed below (subject to change over time):
Provincial Anniversary Days are observed locally by custom and practice and are generally prescribed by regional or city councils. These provinces relate to the former provinces of 19th-century New Zealand and are not determined by present-day districts or regions.
- Auckland: the Monday nearest the actual day
- Taranaki: Moves to 2nd Monday in March to avoid Easter.
- Hawke’s Bay: Moves to Friday before Labour Day.
- Wellington: the Monday nearest the actual day
- Marlborough: Observed 1st Monday after Labour Day.
- Nelson: the Monday nearest the actual day
- Canterbury: Northern and Central Canterbury areas observe Christchurch Show Day. The definition for the Canterbury Anniversary Day celebration as decided by Christchurch City is the second Friday after the first Tuesday in November each year.
- Canterbury (South): South Canterbury observes Dominion Day, the 4th Monday in September.
- Westland: Varies throughout Westland, but Greymouth observes the official day.
- Otago: As there is no easily determined single day of local observance for Otago, the employee and employer should rely on either their employment agreement or their custom and practice. Where there is no clear custom and practice, they should try and agree on how they will observe Anniversary Day.
- Southland: Normally observed on Easter Tuesday.
- Chatham Islands: the Monday nearest the actual day
Provincial names, wider areas
Anniversary areas follow the nineteenth-century provinces. Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Northland and Gisborne observe Auckland’s day; Tasman and Buller observe Nelson’s day; Manawatū and Whanganui observe Wellington’s day. Use these groupings to find the relevant listing.
In the words of Employment New Zealand:
NOTE: Each region in New Zealand has its own anniversary day. The dates below may contain unintentional errors. For the most reliable date, please check with your local council.
Common questions
- Which anniversary day applies where I live or work?
- Look for the former province covering the location, using the regional notes beside the tables. Confirm the local observance with the council, as present-day boundaries and provincial anniversary areas do not always match.
- Why is my region missing from the list?
- Some modern regions share a neighbouring former province’s anniversary day. The grouping notes identify these connections, including areas covered by Auckland, Nelson and Wellington observances.
- Why is the next year’s anniversary date missing?
- Employment New Zealand usually publishes these dates a year or two ahead. Local observance dates follow custom rather than a single statutory timetable, so the tables leave an entry unpublished until an official date is available.
Official sources
Every date here was compared with the official pages on . Should anything differ, the official page is right. How dates are checked.