Nelson's Shared Anniversary Holiday
Nelson Anniversary Day 2026 and 2027, New Zealand
| Year | Observed | Actual anniversary | School calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | (Sunday) | the Term 1 start window | |
| 2027 | (Monday) | 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 falls on that Monday, so no move is needed.
- Date compared with 2026 Calculated
- 1 day earlier in the year than in 2026 (Monday 2 February 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.
Nelson, Tasman and Buller share the former Nelson province's anniversary holiday. It is observed on the Monday nearest the anniversary at the start of February, giving the area a three-day weekend. In the published years, Nelson Anniversary Day falls within the Term 1 start window. Check your school's first day back before planning around the holiday.
Right now in Nelson (, New Zealand time)
Next Nelson Anniversary Day
88 days to go
: the Term 1 start window.
Why Nelson 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: Nelson (includes Tasman and Buller regions). The day is therefore a public holiday in the Tasman and Buller regions too.
Nelson Anniversary weekend 2026 and 2027: the long weekend
- 2026: Saturday 31 January to Monday 2 February 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.
Nelson Anniversary Day: 2010 to 2025
Employment New Zealand's previous-years list shows how the observed anniversary day for Nelson moved between years.
Show observed dates from 2010 to 2025
| Year | Observed | Actual anniversary |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | (Saturday) | |
| 2024 | (Thursday) | |
| 2023 | (Wednesday) | |
| 2022 | (Tuesday) | |
| 2021 | (Monday) | |
| 2020 | (Saturday) | |
| 2019 | (Friday) | |
| 2018 | (Thursday) | |
| 2017 | (Wednesday) | |
| 2016 | (Monday) | |
| 2015 | (Sunday) | |
| 2014 | (Saturday) | |
| 2013 | (Friday) | |
| 2012 | (Wednesday) | |
| 2011 | (Tuesday) | |
| 2010 | (Monday) |
Public holidays, long weekends and school dates
Common questions
- When is Nelson Anniversary Day in 2027?
- Monday 1 February 2027. The anniversary itself falls on that Monday, so the holiday is taken on the day. In the school calendar that is the Term 1 start window.
- Why is Nelson Anniversary Day observed on Monday 1 February in 2027?
- Because Nelson keeps the Monday nearest to the actual day: in 2026 1 February is a Sunday, so the nearest Monday is Monday 2 February, one day later; in 2027 the anniversary, 1 February, is itself a Monday, so no move is needed.
- Do schools in Nelson close for Nelson Anniversary Day?
- 2026: Monday 2 February 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.