Waitangi Day 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February. If you don't normally work Saturdays, your public holiday moves to Monday 8 February. That gives most Monday-to-Friday workers a three-day weekend from Saturday 6 to Monday 8 February.
What Waitangi Day marks
Waitangi Day commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi at Waitangi on 6 February 1840. The Waitangi Day Act 1976 makes 6 February a public holiday throughout New Zealand every year.
Waitangi Day dates
| Year | 6 February falls on | Day off if you don't work weekends |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday | Friday 6 February |
| 2027 | Saturday | Monday 8 February |
| 2028 | Sunday | Monday 7 February |
How Mondayisation works for Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day is fixed to 6 February. When it lands on a weekend, the day you actually get off depends on your normal working pattern.
- You'd normally work Saturday: the public holiday stays on Saturday 6 February.
- You wouldn't normally work Saturday: the public holiday moves to Monday 8 February.
You only get one public holiday for Waitangi Day, not two. This rule has applied to Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day since 1 January 2014. ANZAC Day 2027 moves the same way, from Sunday 25 April to Monday 26 April.
Auckland and Nelson get two long weekends in a row
Auckland Anniversary Day and Nelson Anniversary Day are both on Monday 1 February 2027. Add Waitangi Day on Monday 8 February and people in those regions get back-to-back long weekends: 30 January to 1 February, then 6 to 8 February.
February 2027 has 19 working days once weekends and the Waitangi Day Monday are taken out. Auckland and Nelson have 18.
Are shops open on Waitangi Day?
Waitangi Day isn't one of the restricted shop trading days. Those are Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and the morning of ANZAC Day. Shops can open on Waitangi Day, though each business decides its own hours.
Working on Waitangi Day
If you work on a public holiday, your employer must pay you at least time and a half. If the holiday falls on a day you'd normally work, you also get an alternative holiday, a paid day off to take later. For Waitangi Day 2027, that means it matters whether Saturday or Monday is your public holiday.
Schools on Waitangi Day 2027
Term 1 2027 starts between Thursday 28 January and Wednesday 3 February, so Waitangi Day falls in the first week or two of term. Schools are closed on Monday 8 February. The full term calendar is in our school holidays guide.
The next public holidays after Waitangi Day
| Holiday | Date | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Taranaki Anniversary Day | Mon 8 Mar 2027 | Taranaki |
| Otago Anniversary Day | Mon 22 Mar 2027 | Otago |
| Good Friday | Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Everywhere |
| Easter Monday | Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Everywhere |
| ANZAC Day | Mon 26 Apr 2027 (falls on Sun 25 Apr) | Everywhere |
Easter comes early in 2027. Our Easter 2027 guide covers the dates and Southland's extra day.
Common questions
When is Waitangi Day 2027?
Saturday 6 February 2027. If you don't normally work Saturdays, you get Monday 8 February off instead.
Is Waitangi Day Mondayised in 2027?
Yes, for anyone who wouldn't normally work on a Saturday. Their public holiday is Monday 8 February 2027.
When was Waitangi Day 2026?
Friday 6 February 2026, so there was no Mondayisation.
When is Waitangi Day 2028?
6 February 2028 is a Sunday. If you don't work Sundays, your day off is Monday 7 February 2028.
Do I get two days off if Waitangi Day is on a Saturday?
No. You get one public holiday for Waitangi Day. It's either the Saturday or the Monday, depending on whether you'd normally work Saturday.
Sources: Employment New Zealand, Public holidays and anniversary dates, When a public holiday falls on a weekend and Restricted trading days for shops. New Zealand Legislation, Waitangi Day Act 1976 and Holidays Act 2003 (sections 45A, 50 and 56). Ministry of Education, School terms and holidays dates. Dates checked October 2026.