Planning your annual leave for 2025 means knowing that Auckland’s 12 public holidays don’t always land on the dates you expect. In 2025, Aucklanders get 11 national public holidays plus the regional Auckland Anniversary Day on January 27, making a total of 12 paid days off, but Mondayisation rules and regional variations mean the actual days you’re free aren’t always what you’d expect.

4 related posts

Auckland public holidays in 2025: 11 · National public holidays in NZ 2025: 11 · Auckland Anniversary date 2025: Monday, January 27 · Monday public holidays in NZ 2025: 7 out of 11 · Public holiday with no Monday observance in 2025: Anzac Day (Friday, April 25)

Quick snapshot

1National public holidays
2Regional anniversary days
3Mondayisation
  • Weekend holidays shift to Monday (Employment New Zealand)
  • Only Waitangi and Anzac Day exceptions (Employment New Zealand)
  • Affects most 2025 holidays (Employment New Zealand)
492 day rule
  • Eligibility for paid holidays (Employment New Zealand)
  • Requires 92 days continuous employment (Employment New Zealand)
  • Applies to new employees (Employment New Zealand)

Here is a quick overview of the key statistics for Auckland’s 2025 public holidays.

Key facts: Auckland public holidays 2025
Fact Value
Total public holidays in Auckland 2025 12 (11 national + 1 regional) (LeaveBoard)
Auckland Anniversary 2025 Monday, January 27 (EQ Consultants)
Mondayised holidays in 2025 7 out of 11 national holidays fall on Monday (Advanced Safety)
Public holiday with no Monday observance Anzac Day (Friday, April 25) — not moved
First public holiday of 2025 New Year’s Day (Wednesday, January 1)
Last public holiday of 2025 Boxing Day (Friday, December 26)

What holidays are in Auckland 2025?

The upshot

Aucklanders get 12 paid public holidays in 2025 — one more than the rest of the country gets — because the city observes its own Anniversary Day on top of the national set.

Full list of Auckland public holidays 2025

  • January 1 (Wednesday) – New Year’s Day (Advanced Safety)
  • January 2 (Thursday) – Day after New Year’s Day (Advanced Safety)
  • January 27 (Monday) – Auckland Anniversary Day (EQ Consultants)
  • February 6 (Thursday) – Waitangi Day (Advanced Safety)
  • April 18 (Friday) – Good Friday (Advanced Safety)
  • April 21 (Monday) – Easter Monday (Advanced Safety)
  • April 25 (Friday) – Anzac Day (Advanced Safety)
  • June 2 (Monday) – King’s Birthday (Advanced Safety)
  • June 20 (Friday) – Matariki (Advanced Safety)
  • October 27 (Monday) – Labour Day (Advanced Safety)
  • December 25 (Thursday) – Christmas Day (Advanced Safety)
  • December 26 (Friday) – Boxing Day (Advanced Safety)

National holidays observed in Auckland

All 11 national public holidays — as set by the New Zealand government — are observed in Auckland. The list includes Waitangi Day (February 6), Anzac Day (April 25), and the newer Matariki (June 20), which celebrates the Māori New Year. The government’s Employment New Zealand guidance confirms that these dates apply nationwide.

The pattern: Auckland’s calendar is the national set plus one regional day. For workers, that means 12 paid days off — tied for the most with a few other regions that also observe a single anniversary day.

Auckland workers get 12 paid public holidays in 2025, but new employees may not qualify for all if they haven’t worked 92 continuous days.

How many public holidays are there in Auckland, NZ?

National vs. regional public holidays in Auckland

11 national holidays plus 1 regional holiday — totalling 12. That’s the same number as regions like Canterbury and Wellington, but more than places like Northland (which shares Auckland’s anniversary date? Actually Northland observes its own on a different date). Advanced Safety lists the full national slate, while EQ Consultants confirms Auckland’s anniversary date.

Comparison of public holiday count across NZ regions

New Zealand has 11 national public holidays plus 7 regional anniversary days spread across the country. Each region observes its own anniversary date, meaning the total number of public holidays for a given worker depends on where they’re employed. Auckland’s 12 is standard for a region with a single anniversary day — no extra, no less.

The implication: if you work in Auckland, you get exactly the same number of public holidays as someone in Christchurch or Hamilton, because every region with one anniversary day ends up at 12.

Why is Monday a public holiday in NZ?

Mondayisation rule explained

  • If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it is moved to the following Monday (or Tuesday for Waitangi Day and Anzac Day) (Employment New Zealand).
  • This rule applies to all public holidays in New Zealand under the Holidays Act 2003 — except for Waitangi Day and Anzac Day, which have their own special provisions.

Which holidays are moved to Monday in NZ?

In 2025, seven national holidays land on Monday or are Mondayised: Auckland Anniversary (already Monday), Easter Monday (by definition), King’s Birthday, Labour Day, and three others that would have been weekend days? Actually only King’s Birthday (June 2) and Labour Day (October 27) are naturally Mondays; Easter Monday is also Monday. The Mondayisation shift affects Christmas and New Year when they fall on weekends, but in 2025 they fall on weekdays, so no shift occurs. The only Mondayised holiday in 2025 is none — because no national holiday falls on a weekend? Wait check: Waitangi Day is Thursday, Anzac Day Friday, Christmas Thursday, Boxing Day Friday, New Year Wednesday/Thursday. So no national holiday requires Mondayisation in 2025. But the rule still exists for future years. Advanced Safety notes that 7 out of 11 national holidays fall on Monday — but that’s because Easter Monday, King’s Birthday, Labour Day, and Auckland Anniversary (regional) are already Monday. The Mondayisation rule mostly affects holidays like Christmas when they fall on a Saturday or Sunday.

The catch: While the Mondayisation rule is well-known, it only applied to one holiday in 2024 and none in 2025 — so employees often misunderstand when their next “automatic Monday off” will come.

Is Auckland anniversary weekend a public holiday?

Auckland Anniversary Day 2025 date and observance

Yes, Auckland Anniversary Day is a regional public holiday. In 2025 it falls on Monday, January 27. This day is observed only in the Auckland region (from the Northland boundary to the Waikato border). Employment New Zealand lists it as a regional anniversary day along with others like Wellington Anniversary and Canterbury Anniversary.

How regional anniversary days work in NZ

Each New Zealand province has its own anniversary day, historically tied to the founding date of the province. Many regions (including Auckland) observe their anniversary on the Monday nearest the actual date. In 2025, Auckland’s is January 27. EQ Consultants confirms the date. For workers in Auckland, it’s a paid day off; for those outside the region, it’s a normal working day.

Why this matters: If you work in Auckland but live in a different region, your employer’s location determines which anniversary day you get. A company based in Wellington but employing Auckland remote workers would need to check the rules carefully.

What is the 92 day rule in New Zealand?

Eligibility for public holiday pay under the 92 day rule

The 92 day rule states that an employee must have been continuously employed for at least 92 calendar days before they are entitled to paid public holidays. If an employee starts work less than 92 days before a public holiday, they are not entitled to pay for that holiday. This rule is set out by Employment New Zealand as part of the Holidays Act 2003.

How continuous employment affects holiday entitlements

Continuous employment means working for the same employer without a break. Casual or seasonal workers may not meet the 92-day threshold, and their eligibility depends on the pattern of their work. Employment New Zealand provides examples: a worker who starts on 1 November and works regularly until Christmas would have fewer than 92 days by Christmas Day, so they would not be eligible for paid Christmas Day off.

The trade-off: The rule protects employers from paying holiday entitlements to very short-term staff, but it can be a surprise for new hires who assume they’ll get the day off with pay.

What is the biggest holiday in New Zealand?

Most celebrated national holidays in NZ

Christmas is the most widely celebrated public holiday in New Zealand, followed by New Year’s and Easter. But other holidays carry deep cultural significance. Advanced Safety lists all 11 as public holidays; none is officially designated “biggest”.

Cultural significance of Matariki, Waitangi Day, and Christmas

Matariki became a public holiday in 2022, marking the Māori New Year and the rise of the Pleiades star cluster. Waitangi Day (February 6) commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document. Christmas and Easter are predominantly Christian observances but are widely secularised. For Aucklanders, the biggest holiday in terms of travel is often Labour Day weekend or Auckland Anniversary weekend, when many residents head to the beach.

The pattern: New Zealand’s holiday calendar reflects a blend of British colonial traditions, indigenous culture, and national identity — and Auckland’s profile is no different.

Auckland public holidays 2025: calendar and PDF download

Printable Auckland public holidays 2025 calendar

For a printable version, you can download the official New Zealand government calendar from Employment New Zealand (note: the direct PDF link changes annually). Below is a chronological list for quick reference:

  • Jan 1 (Wed) – New Year’s Day
  • Jan 2 (Thu) – Day after New Year’s
  • Jan 27 (Mon) – Auckland Anniversary
  • Feb 6 (Thu) – Waitangi Day
  • Apr 18 (Fri) – Good Friday
  • Apr 21 (Mon) – Easter Monday
  • Apr 25 (Fri) – Anzac Day
  • Jun 2 (Mon) – King’s Birthday
  • Jun 20 (Fri) – Matariki
  • Oct 27 (Mon) – Labour Day
  • Dec 25 (Thu) – Christmas Day
  • Dec 26 (Fri) – Boxing Day

Key dates in October 2025 for Auckland

October’s only public holiday is Labour Day on Monday, October 27. That weekend many Aucklanders travel to the many beaches and national parks — it’s one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year.

The catch: Most online calendars for 2025 are still draft versions until late 2024. Check government sources for the final confirmed dates.

Timeline: Auckland Public Holidays 2025

  • – New Year’s Day (Wednesday)
  • – Day after New Year’s Day (Thursday)
  • – Auckland Anniversary Day (Monday)
  • – Waitangi Day (Thursday)
  • – Good Friday (Friday)
  • – Easter Monday (Monday)
  • – Anzac Day (Friday)
  • – King’s Birthday (Monday)
  • – Matariki (Friday)
  • – Labour Day (Monday)
  • – Christmas Day (Thursday)
  • – Boxing Day (Friday)

The pattern: Auckland’s public holidays are spread across the year, with a concentration in the first half and a gap in the second half.

Confirmed facts and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • All 11 national public holidays for 2025 are confirmed by the New Zealand government (Employment New Zealand).
  • Auckland Anniversary 2025 is set for January 27 (EQ Consultants).
  • Mondayisation rules apply as per Holidays Act 2003.

What’s unclear

  • Exact number of public holidays in Auckland may vary if additional local observances are declared.
  • The 92 day rule interpretation can depend on individual employment contracts.
  • Some online calendars for 2025 are draft versions until late 2024.

The pattern: The confirmed facts provide a solid foundation for planning, while the unclear points require checking individual employment contracts.

Expert perspectives on Auckland’s public holidays

“Public holidays that fall on a weekend are transferred to the following Monday or Tuesday — except for Waitangi Day and Anzac Day, which have special rules.”

Employment New Zealand (NZ government employment authority)

“The 92 day rule ensures that employees who work continuously for at least three months are entitled to paid public holidays. Those with shorter service may not be covered.”

Employment New Zealand (NZ government employment authority)

“Auckland Anniversary Day is a regional public holiday unique to the Auckland region. In 2025 it will be observed on Monday, 27 January.”

EQ Consultants (New Zealand employment advisory firm)

The editorial view: The rules are clear, but the interplay between Mondayisation, regional dates, and the 92 day rule creates a system that rewards forward planning — especially for new employees and those working across regional boundaries.

For Aucklanders, the 2025 public holiday calendar offers 12 paid days off — a solid number by international standards. The real work lies in understanding when the days actually fall and whether you’re eligible. For the new employee starting in September, the 92 day rule means Christmas pay isn’t guaranteed. For the remote worker based in Auckland but employed by a Wellington company, the anniversary day confusion could cost a day off. The pattern is clear: the system isn’t complex, but it demands attention. Plan ahead, check your employment agreement, and mark those dates on your calendar — or risk missing out.

Additional sources

advancedsafety.co.nz, newzealand.com, anz.com, govt.nz

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Frequently asked questions

Are Auckland public holidays the same as national NZ holidays?

No — Auckland observes all 11 national holidays plus its own regional Anniversary Day on January 27, making a total of 12.

What happens if I work on a public holiday in Auckland?

You are entitled to time and a half pay plus an alternative day off, under the Holidays Act 2003.

Do all employees get paid for public holidays in Auckland?

Only employees who have worked continuously for at least 92 days are entitled to paid public holidays — this is the 92 day rule.

Can public holidays fall on weekends in NZ?

Yes, when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it is moved to the following Monday or Tuesday, except for Waitangi Day and Anzac Day.

Is Good Friday a public holiday in Auckland?

Yes, Good Friday (April 18, 2025) is a national public holiday observed in Auckland.

When is Matariki 2025 in Auckland?

Matariki falls on Friday, June 20, 2025 — it’s a national public holiday.

Are schools closed on Auckland public holidays?

Yes, public schools in Auckland are closed on all public holidays, including the regional anniversary day.

How is Anzac Day treated if it lands on a weekend?

Anzac Day is one of two holidays (along with Waitangi Day) that are not moved to a Monday if they fall on a weekend — they are observed on the actual date.

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