New Zealand gets four public holidays over Christmas and New Year 2026: Friday 25 December (Christmas Day), Monday 28 December (Boxing Day, which falls on a Saturday), Friday 1 January 2027 and Monday 4 January 2027 (the day after New Year's Day, which falls on a Saturday). Take the three working days in between as leave and you're off for 11 days in a row.
- Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2026
- Boxing Day: Monday 28 December 2026 (falls on Sat 26 Dec)
- New Year's Day: Friday 1 January 2027
- Day after New Year's Day: Monday 4 January 2027 (falls on Sat 2 Jan)
- Working days in between: Tue 29, Wed 30 and Thu 31 December
What are the Christmas public holidays in NZ in 2026?
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and the day after New Year's Day are national public holidays under the Holidays Act 2003. In 2026 two of them land on a Saturday, so for anyone who works Monday to Friday they move to the following Monday.
| Holiday | Actual date | Day off for a Mon–Fri worker |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Fri 25 Dec 2026 |
| Boxing Day | Sat 26 Dec 2026 | Mon 28 Dec 2026 |
| New Year's Day | Fri 1 Jan 2027 | Fri 1 Jan 2027 |
| Day after New Year's Day | Sat 2 Jan 2027 | Mon 4 Jan 2027 |
Most offices are back on Tuesday 5 January 2027.
Is Boxing Day on Saturday or Monday in 2026?
It depends on whether you normally work Saturdays. Boxing Day 2026 is Saturday 26 December. If Saturday is an ordinary working day for you, the holiday stays on Saturday and Monday 28 December is a normal day. If you don't usually work Saturdays, your public holiday moves to Monday 28 December. Employment New Zealand calls this an "otherwise working day" test. The same rule moves 2 January to Monday 4 January.
You get one public holiday for each, never two. Someone who works every day of the week keeps the holiday on the Saturday.
How to get 11 days off for 3 days of leave
Only three working days sit between Christmas and New Year in 2026: Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 December. Here's what different amounts of annual leave buy you, for someone who works Monday to Friday:
| Leave you take | Days of leave | Time off | Days in a row |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | 0 | Fri 25–Mon 28 Dec, then Fri 1–Mon 4 Jan | 4, then 4 |
| Tue 29–Thu 31 Dec | 3 | Fri 25 Dec–Mon 4 Jan | 11 |
| Mon 21–Thu 24 Dec and Tue 29–Thu 31 Dec | 7 | Sat 19 Dec–Mon 4 Jan | 17 |
Count your own dates with the working days calculator, which already knows every public holiday.
What do you get paid if you work on Christmas Day?
If you work on a public holiday that would otherwise be a working day for you, your employer must pay you at least time and a half for the hours you work, and give you an alternative holiday: a paid day off to take later. If you don't work it, you get the day off on your normal pay.
A worked example at the adult minimum wage of $23.95 an hour: time and a half is $35.93 an hour, so an 8-hour shift on Christmas Day pays at least $287.40 before tax, plus a day in lieu. A part-timer who works Boxing Day on the Saturday gets the same deal for that Saturday, and Monday 28 December is an ordinary day for them.
Can my employer make me take leave over Christmas?
Yes, if the workplace has an annual closedown. Employment New Zealand says an employer can have one closedown in any 12 months and must give 14 days' notice before it starts. If you have annual holidays available, you must use them for the closedown days. If you don't have enough, your employer can let you take leave in advance, or you can agree on unpaid or other leave.
The public holidays inside a closedown are still public holidays, not annual leave, when they fall on a day you'd normally work. In 2026 a closedown from Friday 25 December to Monday 4 January would use only 3 days of annual leave. More on how leave builds up in our annual leave guide.
Are shops open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day?
Christmas Day is one of the three and a half restricted trading days under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990, so almost all shops must close. Dairies, service stations, pharmacies and some others selling food, drink and everyday items can open, and some areas have exemptions. Boxing Day, New Year's Day and 2 January are not restricted, so shops can open, though each sets its own hours.
Christmas and the school holidays
State schools finish Term 4 no later than Friday 18 December 2026, a week before Christmas. Term 1 2027 starts between Thursday 28 January and Wednesday 3 February, depending on the school. Every date is in the school holidays guide.
The next public holidays after New Year
| Holiday | Date | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Wellington Anniversary | Mon 25 Jan 2027 | Wellington region |
| Auckland Anniversary | Mon 1 Feb 2027 | Auckland region |
| Nelson Anniversary | Mon 1 Feb 2027 | Nelson region |
| Waitangi Day | Mon 8 Feb 2027 (falls on Sat 6 Feb) | Everywhere |
See Waitangi Day 2027, or every holiday for 2026 and 2027 in the public holidays tool.
Christmas 2027 looks different
In 2027 Christmas Day falls on a Saturday and Boxing Day on a Sunday, so for Monday-to-Friday workers they move to Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December 2027.
Common questions
What days are public holidays at Christmas 2026 in NZ?
Friday 25 December (Christmas Day), Monday 28 December (Boxing Day, which falls on Saturday 26 December), Friday 1 January 2027 and Monday 4 January 2027 (the day after New Year's Day, which falls on Saturday 2 January).
Is Monday 28 December 2026 a public holiday?
Yes, for anyone who doesn't normally work Saturdays. Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December, so it's observed on Monday 28 December. If you normally work Saturdays, your holiday stays on the Saturday.
Is Monday 4 January 2027 a public holiday?
Yes, for anyone who doesn't normally work Saturdays. The day after New Year's Day falls on Saturday 2 January 2027, so it moves to Monday 4 January.
How many days of leave do I need over Christmas 2026?
Three. Take Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 December as annual leave and you're off from Friday 25 December to Monday 4 January, 11 days in a row.
Do I get paid extra for working Christmas Day in NZ?
Yes. If it's a day you'd normally work, you get at least time and a half for the hours you work plus an alternative holiday, a paid day off to take later.
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in NZ?
No. Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December 2026, and New Year's Eve, Thursday 31 December, are ordinary working days.
Are shops open on Boxing Day in NZ?
Yes. Only Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and ANZAC Day morning are restricted trading days. Shops can open on Boxing Day, though each sets its own hours.
Sources: Employment New Zealand, Public holidays and anniversary dates, When a public holiday falls on a weekend, Annual closedowns and holidays and Restricted trading days for shops; Ministry of Education term dates. Checked November 2026. General information, not legal advice.
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