Summer from 2027 to 2028
Summer holidays 2027/28 in New Zealand: when school finishes and goes back
| What | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Term 4 2027 ends | No later than | A school that has met its half-day minimum may close earlier |
| Summer holidays start | No later than | From each school’s own closing date |
| Every state school closed | to | 30 weekdays, 44 days in all; worked out from the published dates |
| Term 1 2028 opens | Between and | Each school chooses its first day inside the window |
| Length as the Ministry states it | 5 or 6 weeks, from the school’s closing date until its opening date the following year | |
Key facts
- Summer closure for all state schools Calculated
- 30 weekdays (44 days in all) from Saturday 18 December 2027 to Sunday 30 January 2028, when every state school is closed
- Summer weekdays when childcare may be needed Calculated
- 26 weekdays when childcare may be needed during the summer closure for all state schools, assuming a Monday-to-Friday working week and subtracting 4 public holidays observed on weekdays; regional anniversary days are not subtracted
- Summer break with the latest closing and opening dates Calculated
- 36 weekdays for a school closing on the last permitted day and opening on the last day of the Term 1 start window
- Public holidays during summer Calculated
- Christmas Day (Saturday 25 December, Mondayised to Monday 27 December), Boxing Day (Sunday 26 December, Mondayised to Tuesday 28 December), New Year’s Day (Saturday 1 January, Mondayised to Monday 3 January), Day after New Year’s Day (Sunday 2 January, Mondayised to Tuesday 4 January) and Waitangi Day (Sunday 6 February, Mondayised to Monday 7 February)
- Regional anniversaries during summer Calculated
- Not yet published by Employment New Zealand for 2028
- Start compared with 2026 Calculated
- Begins 1 day earlier in December than the 2026 summer
- Length compared with 2026 Calculated
- 2 weekdays longer than the 2026 summer, counting the days every school is closed
A fact marked Calculated is worked out from the official dates linked below, rather than quoted from the source.
The summer holidays begin when each school closes in December 2027 and end when it opens for Term 1 2028. Term 4 must end by the published date, but a school may close earlier once it has met its half-day minimum. Each school chooses its opening day within the Ministry’s published window. This page shows the dates when every state school is closed, with weekday counts worked out from the listed dates. It also lists public holidays up to the day before the latest permitted Term 1 opening date and shows whether regional anniversary dates are available. Some schools may already have reopened during this period. Where the previous summer’s dates are published, you can compare the start and length of the shared break. Check your school’s own notice for its closing and opening days.
Summer depends on your school
Term 4 must finish by the published date, but a school meeting its half-day requirement may close earlier. Its summer holidays run from its own closing day until its own opening day the following year.
Confirm your school’s first day
Schools select their first day of Term 1 within the published window. The return date therefore varies between schools; check your school’s calendar for its chosen start.
Public holidays in the summer holidays 2027/28
| Public holiday | Date | Weekday | Observed date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Saturday | Mondayised: | |
| Boxing Day | Sunday | Mondayised: | |
| New Year’s Day | Saturday | Mondayised: | |
| Day after New Year’s Day | Sunday | Mondayised: | |
| Waitangi Day | Sunday | Mondayised: |
For all public holidays and where they fall in the school year, see public holidays 2027 and public holidays 2028.
Regional anniversary days in the summer holidays
Not yet published by Employment New Zealand for 2028
An anniversary day is a public holiday in its own region only. One that falls inside the Term 1 start window closes a school only if that school has already opened.
The school years on either side
- School holidays 2027: the whole 2027 calendar, Term 4 included.
- School holidays 2028: the Term 1 window and the holidays after each term.
- Term 1 start dates: every published opening window side by side.
Add to your calendar (.ics) Calendar dates come from official publications or legislation, with no estimates and a source link for each event.
Common questions
- When does school finish for the year in 2027?
- Term 4 in 2027 ends no later than Friday 17 December 2027. Schools may finish earlier once they have met their half-day minimum, so check your school's calendar for its exact last day in 2027.
- When does school go back in 2028?
- Schools open for Term 1 in 2028 between Monday 31 January 2028 and Tuesday 8 February 2028. Each school chooses its opening day within that window; check your school's notice for its 2028 return arrangements.
- How long are the summer holidays from 2027 to 2028?
- Every state school is closed for 30 weekdays (44 days in all), from Saturday 18 December 2027 to Sunday 30 January 2028. Your school's summer break from 2027 to 2028 may be longer if it closes earlier or opens later; use its own dates when arranging care or leave.
Official sources
- Ministry of Education: School terms and holidays dates (read )
- Employment New Zealand: Public holidays and anniversary dates (read )
- Holidays Act 2003 (2003 No 129), sections 44, 45 and 45A, "Version as at 20 December 2023" (New Zealand Legislation) (read )
Every date here was compared with the official pages on . Should anything differ, the official page is right. How dates are checked.