While you're here
Public holidays in New Zealand and how they affect travellers
National and regional holidays, restricted trading days, surcharges, and what actually stays open.
6 min read · updated 2026-09
Public holidays rarely ruin a trip here, but a few of them do change what is open and what things cost. A little planning saves you standing outside a locked supermarket.
National public holidays
- New Year's Day and the day after, 1 and 2 January.
- Waitangi Day, 6 February.
- Good Friday and Easter Monday, March or April.
- Anzac Day, 25 April.
- King's Birthday, first Monday in June.
- Matariki, the Maori New Year — a Friday in June or July, set by the lunar calendar.
- Labour Day, fourth Monday in October.
- Christmas Day and Boxing Day, 25 and 26 December.
Regional anniversary days
Each region also has its own anniversary day, usually a Monday, and the dates move. Auckland and the upper North Island take a day around late January; Wellington a week or so earlier; Nelson in early February; Taranaki in March; Otago in late March; Southland at Easter; South Canterbury in September; Hawke's Bay and Marlborough around Labour Day; Canterbury in November; and the West Coast in early December. Only that region stops, so a holiday in one town is a normal working day two hours up the road.
Restricted trading days
Four days carry legal trading restrictions: Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Anzac Day until 1pm. On those days most shops and supermarkets must close, though cafes, restaurants, petrol stations, dairies and accommodation carry on. Takeaway alcohol also cannot be sold, so buy the night before if you want a drink at your accommodation. You can still order a drink with a meal out.
Christmas Day is the quiet one
It is the one day of the year when the country genuinely stops. Book any Christmas meal well ahead, shop a day or two early, and expect limited options beyond hotels, service stations and a handful of takeaways. It falls in high summer here, so the beaches are the busiest place in town.
Holiday surcharges
Many cafes and restaurants add a surcharge, commonly around 15%, on public holidays to cover higher staffing costs. It must be clearly displayed before you order. Plenty of places advertise that they do not charge one, so it is worth a glance at the door.
Holiday weekends also mean busy roads and booked-out accommodation. Locking in transport and beds early matters far more at these times than in a normal week.
Common questions
- Are tours and attractions open on public holidays?
- Mostly yes — tourism operates through the holidays, with Christmas Day the main exception. Check the operator's own booking calendar.
- Will supermarkets be open at Easter?
- Not on Good Friday or Easter Sunday. Easter Saturday and Monday are normal trading days.
- Do you run transfers on public holidays?
- Yes, including Christmas Day. Book further ahead than usual, as driver availability is tighter.
Land, meet your driver, go
We run private airport transfers and intercity trips across both islands with a fixed price quoted before you book — no meters, no surge, and your driver tracks the flight.
Get a transfer price