New Zealand School Holidays & Public Holidays

Below are the calendar dates for the New Zealand School Holidays, Public Holidays and Regional Anniversary Holidays for 2010 and 2011.

New Zealand Public Holidays

  2008 2009 2010 2011
New Year's Day Tue 1 Jan Thu 1 Jan Fri 1 Jan Sat 1 Jan
New Years Holiday Wed 2 Jan Fri 2 Jan Mon 4 Jan Mon 3 Jan
Waitangi Day Wed 6 Feb Fri 6 Feb Sat 6 Feb Sun 6 Feb
Good Friday Fri 21 Mar Fri 10 Apr Fri 2 Apr Fri 22 Apr
Easter Monday Mon 24 Mar Mon 13 Apr Mon 5 Apr Mon 25 Apr
Anzac Day Fri 25 Apr Sat 25 Apr Sun 25 Apr Mon 25 Apr
Queen's Birthday Mon 2 Jun Mon 1 Jun Mon 7 Jun Mon 6 Jun
Labour Day Mon 27 Oct Mon 26 Oct Mon 25 Oct Mon 24 Oct
Christmas Day Thu 25 Dec Fri 25 Dec *Mon 27 Dec *Tue 27 Dec
Boxing Day Fri 26 Dec Mon 28 Dec Tue 28 Dec Mon 26 Dec

*Actual day falls on a weekend, so public holiday is on the next "working" day.


New Zealand Regional Anniversary Holidays

  2008 2009 2010 2011
Auckland Mon 28 Jan Mon 26 Jan Mon 1 Feb Mon 31 Jan
Taranaki Mon 10 Mar Mon 9 Mar Mon 8 Mar Mon 14 Mar
Hawke's Bay Fri 24 Oct Fri 23 Oct Fri 22 Oct Fri 21 Oct
Wellington Mon 21 Jan Mon 19 Jan Mon 25 Jan Mon 24 Jan
Marlborough Mon 3 Nov Mon 2 Nov Mon 1 Nov Mon 31 Oct
Nelson Mon 4 Feb Mon 2 Feb Mon 1 Feb Mon 31 Jan
Canterbury Fri 14 Nov Fri 13 Nov Fri 12 Nov Fri 11 Nov
South Canterbury Mon 22 Sep Mon 28 Sep Mon 27 Sep Mon 26 Sep
Westland Mon 1 Dec Mon 7 Dec Mon 29 Nov Mon 5 Dec
Otago Mon 24 Mar Mon 23 Mar Mon 22 Mar Mon 21 Mar
Southland Mon 14 Jan Mon 19 Jan Mon 18 Jan Mon 17 Jan


The government has announced the new format for school terms and holiday dates for 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Schools may exercise flexibility to open for instruction between the day following Auckland Anniversary day and 7 February, the day following Waitangi Day. Schools serving the same community must consult to establish a common opening day for schools in that community. This flexibility of dates will allow schools to accommodate local events more easily. As in previous years, a board of trustees may close a school for teacher-only days, local gala or show days, and in-service training days. This flexibility is restricted to these events. Where a board exercises this flexibility and closes the school, boards must ensure that schools are open for instruction for the prescribed number of half-days in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

NZ Primary / Intermediate School Terms & Holidays 2010 2011

Source: Ministry of Education


  2010 2011
Term 1 Starts: 2-5 Feb Ends: 1 Apr Starts: 1-7 Feb Ends: 15 Apr
Term 2 Starts: 19 Apr Ends: 2 Jul Starts: 2 May Ends: 15 Jul
Term 3 Starts: 19 Jul Ends: 24 Sep Starts: 1 Aug Ends: 7 Oct
Term 4 Starts: 11 Oct Ends: no later than 20 Dec Starts: 25 Oct Ends: no later than 20 Dec


NZ Secondary School Terms & Holidays 2010 2011

Source: Ministry of Education


  2010 2011
Term 1 Starts: 2-5 Feb Ends: 1 Apr Starts: 1-7 Feb Ends: 15 Apr
Term 2 Starts: 19 Apr Ends: 2 Jul Starts: 2 May Ends: 15 Jul
Term 3 Starts: 19 Jul Ends: 24 Sep Starts: 1 Aug Ends: 7 Oct
Term 4 Starts: 11 Oct Ends: 14 Dec Starts: 25 Oct Ends: No later than 13 Dec