Best days to take off in New Zealand in 2026

Public holidays in New Zealand in 2026

2 of these fall on a weekend in 2026.

Long weekends in New Zealand in 2026

• Thu 1 Jan to Sun 4 Jan, 4 days: New Year's Day, Day after New Year's Day
• Fri 6 Feb to Sun 8 Feb, 3 days: Waitangi Day
• Fri 3 Apr to Mon 6 Apr, 4 days: Good Friday, Easter Monday
• Sat 25 Apr to Mon 27 Apr, 3 days: ANZAC Day, ANZAC Day (substitute day)
• Sat 30 May to Mon 1 Jun, 3 days: King's Birthday
• Fri 10 Jul to Sun 12 Jul, 3 days: Matariki
• Sat 24 Oct to Mon 26 Oct, 3 days: Labour Day
• Fri 25 Dec to Mon 28 Dec, 4 days: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Boxing Day (substitute day)

Best bridge days to book in 2026

A bridge day is a working day between a public holiday and a weekend. Booking it joins them into one long break.

1. Book Mon 5 Jan (1 day) for 5 days off, Thu 1 Jan to Mon 5 Jan, around New Year's Day, Day after New Year's Day.
2. Book Thu 5 Feb (1 day) for 4 days off, Thu 5 Feb to Sun 8 Feb, around Waitangi Day.
3. Book Thu 2 Apr (1 day) for 5 days off, Thu 2 Apr to Mon 6 Apr, around Good Friday, Easter Monday.
4. Book Fri 24 Apr (1 day) for 4 days off, Fri 24 Apr to Mon 27 Apr, around ANZAC Day (substitute day).
5. Book Fri 29 May (1 day) for 4 days off, Fri 29 May to Mon 1 Jun, around King's Birthday.
6. Book Thu 9 Jul (1 day) for 4 days off, Thu 9 Jul to Sun 12 Jul, around Matariki.
7. Book Fri 23 Oct (1 day) for 4 days off, Fri 23 Oct to Mon 26 Oct, around Labour Day.
8. Book Thu 24 Dec (1 day) for 5 days off, Thu 24 Dec to Mon 28 Dec, around Christmas Day, Boxing Day (substitute day).

How many days off can you get in 2026?

A plan for 20 days of leave in 2026

20 days of leave become 53 days off, in 8 breaks of at least five days.

1. Thu 1 Jan to Mon 5 Jan: 5 days off for 1 booked (Mon 5 Jan)
2. Sat 31 Jan to Sun 8 Feb: 9 days off for 4 booked (Mon 2 Feb, Tue 3 Feb, Wed 4 Feb, Thu 5 Feb)
3. Thu 2 Apr to Mon 6 Apr: 5 days off for 1 booked (Thu 2 Apr)
4. Thu 23 Apr to Mon 27 Apr: 5 days off for 2 booked (Thu 23 Apr, Fri 24 Apr)
5. Thu 28 May to Mon 1 Jun: 5 days off for 2 booked (Thu 28 May, Fri 29 May)
6. Sat 4 Jul to Sun 12 Jul: 9 days off for 4 booked (Mon 6 Jul, Tue 7 Jul, Wed 8 Jul, Thu 9 Jul)
7. Thu 22 Oct to Mon 26 Oct: 5 days off for 2 booked (Thu 22 Oct, Fri 23 Oct)
8. Sat 19 Dec to Mon 28 Dec: 10 days off for 4 booked (Mon 21 Dec, Tue 22 Dec, Wed 23 Dec, Thu 24 Dec)

Open this plan and change it

Questions about 2026 in New Zealand

How many public holidays does New Zealand have in 2026?

New Zealand has 13 public holidays in 2026, and 2 of them fall on a weekend.

When are the long weekends in New Zealand in 2026?

Without booking any leave: Thu 1 Jan to Sun 4 Jan (New Year's Day, Day after New Year's Day), Fri 6 Feb to Sun 8 Feb (Waitangi Day), Fri 3 Apr to Mon 6 Apr (Good Friday, Easter Monday), Sat 25 Apr to Mon 27 Apr (ANZAC Day, ANZAC Day (substitute day)), Sat 30 May to Mon 1 Jun (King's Birthday), Fri 10 Jul to Sun 12 Jul (Matariki), Sat 24 Oct to Mon 26 Oct (Labour Day) and Fri 25 Dec to Mon 28 Dec (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Boxing Day (substitute day)).

What are the best days to take off in New Zealand in 2026?

Book Mon 5 Jan to get 5 days off, from Thu 1 Jan to Mon 5 Jan. With 20 days of leave, the best plan gives 53 days off across 8 breaks.