Wellington's Summer Anniversary Break
Wellington Anniversary Day 2026 and 2027, New Zealand
| Year | Observed | Actual anniversary | School calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | (Thursday) | the summer holidays | |
| 2027 | (Friday) | the summer holidays | |
| 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 25 January 2027, in the summer holidays
- Observance rule
- The anniversary itself is Friday 22 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 19 January 2026)
- Anniversary long weekend Calculated
- 3 days off in a row, Saturday 23 January 2027 to Monday 25 January 2027
A fact marked Calculated is worked out from the official dates linked below, rather than quoted from the source.
Summer holidays are still under way when Wellington Anniversary Day arrives in each published year. Its Monday observance precedes the opening of the Term 1 start window, giving the region a three-day weekend before schools begin returning. Wellington shares this public holiday with Manawatū and Whanganui through the former province's coverage. The day is kept on the Monday closest to the late January anniversary, so its place in the calendar follows the anniversary rather than the school timetable.
Right now in Wellington (, New Zealand time)
Next Wellington Anniversary Day
81 days to go
: the summer holidays.
Why Wellington 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: Wellington (includes Manawatu and Whanganui regions). The day is therefore a public holiday in the Manawatu and Whanganui regions too.
Wellington Anniversary weekend 2026 and 2027: the long weekend
- 2026: Saturday 17 January to Monday 19 January 2026: three days off in a row.
- 2027: Saturday 23 January to Monday 25 January 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.
Wellington Anniversary Day: 2010 to 2025
Employment New Zealand's previous-years list shows how the observed anniversary day for Wellington 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) |
* For 2024, Employment New Zealand’s previous-years page lists the anniversary date as 1 February, while its current table gives 22 January, which is the date shown here.
Public holidays, long weekends and school dates
Common questions
- When is Wellington Anniversary Day in 2027?
- Monday 25 January 2027. The anniversary itself is Friday 22 January 2027; Wellington observes the Monday nearest to the actual day. In the school calendar that is the summer holidays.
- Why is it observed on Monday 25 January and not on 22 January?
- Because Wellington keeps the Monday nearest to the actual day: in 2026 22 January is a Thursday, so the nearest Monday is Monday 19 January, three days earlier; in 2027 22 January is a Friday, so the nearest Monday is Monday 25 January, three days later.
- Do schools in Wellington close for Wellington Anniversary Day?
- 2026: Monday 19 January is in the summer holidays, before schools open. 2027: Monday 25 January is in the summer holidays, before schools open.
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.