Auckland Anniversary Day
Auckland Anniversary Day 2026 and 2027, New Zealand
| Year | Observed | Actual anniversary | School calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | (Thursday) | the Term 1 start window | |
| 2027 | (Friday) | the Term 1 start window | |
| 2028 | Not yet published by Employment New Zealand | ||
Add to your calendar (.ics) Calendar dates come from official publications or legislation, with no estimates and a source link for each event.
Key facts
- Observed date in 2027
- Monday 1 February 2027, in the Term 1 start window
- Observance rule
- The anniversary itself is Friday 29 January 2027; the holiday is observed on the nearest Monday. The dates are 3 days apart.
- Date compared with 2026 Calculated
- 6 days later in the year than in 2026 (Monday 26 January 2026)
- Anniversary long weekend Calculated
- 3 days off in a row, Saturday 30 January 2027 to Monday 1 February 2027
A fact marked Calculated is worked out from the official dates linked below, rather than quoted from the source.
The return to school can fall on either side of Auckland Anniversary Day. In the published years, the holiday falls within the Term 1 start window, so check your school's first day back. This regional public holiday follows the former province, covering Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Northland and Gisborne as well as Auckland. The Monday nearest the anniversary makes a three-day weekend.
Right now in Auckland (, New Zealand time)
Next Auckland Anniversary Day
88 days to go
: the Term 1 start window.
Why Auckland takes it on that day
In the words of Employment New Zealand:
Provincial anniversary days are generally observed on the Monday nearest to the actual day.
The area as govt.nz lists it: Auckland (includes Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Northland and Gisborne regions). The day is therefore a public holiday in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Northland and Gisborne regions too.
Auckland Anniversary weekend 2026 and 2027: the long weekend
- 2026: Saturday 24 January to Monday 26 January 2026: three days off in a row.
- 2027: Saturday 30 January to Monday 1 February 2027: three days off in a row.
These breaks combine the anniversary day, weekends and that year's national holidays, assuming weekends are days off.
Auckland Anniversary Day: 2010 to 2025
Employment New Zealand's previous-years list shows how the observed anniversary day for Auckland moved between years.
Show observed dates from 2010 to 2025
| Year | Observed | Actual anniversary |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | (Wednesday) | |
| 2024 | (Monday) | |
| 2023 | (Sunday) | |
| 2022 | (Saturday) | |
| 2021 | (Friday) | |
| 2020 | (Wednesday) | |
| 2019 | (Tuesday) | |
| 2018 | (Monday) | |
| 2017 | (Sunday) | |
| 2016 | (Friday) | |
| 2015 | (Thursday) | |
| 2014 | (Wednesday) | |
| 2013 | (Tuesday) | |
| 2012 | (Sunday) | |
| 2011 | (Saturday) | |
| 2010 | (Friday) |
Public holidays, long weekends and school dates
Common questions
- When is Auckland Anniversary Day in 2027?
- Monday 1 February 2027. The anniversary itself is Friday 29 January 2027; Auckland observes the Monday nearest to the actual day. In the school calendar that is the Term 1 start window.
- Why is it observed on Monday 1 February and not on 29 January?
- Because Auckland keeps the Monday nearest to the actual day: in 2026 29 January is a Thursday, so the nearest Monday is Monday 26 January, three days earlier; in 2027 29 January is a Friday, so the nearest Monday is Monday 1 February, three days later.
- Do schools in Auckland close for Auckland Anniversary Day?
- 2026: Monday 26 January falls within the Term 1 start window; schools are closed for the holiday, so check your school's first day back. 2027: Monday 1 February falls within the Term 1 start window; schools are closed for the holiday, so check your school's first day back.
Official sources
- Employment New Zealand: Public holidays and anniversary dates (read )
- New Zealand Government (govt.nz): Dates for public holidays and anniversary days (read )
- Employment New Zealand: Previous years: Public holidays and anniversary dates (read )
Every date here was compared with the official pages on . Should anything differ, the official page is right. How dates are checked.