11 days off for 3 days of leave
Long weekends 2027 in New Zealand
New Zealand has 11 public holidays in 2027, every one of them on a weekday. The smartest move: take 3 days of leave and get 11 days off, 25 December 2026 to 4 January 2027.
- Bank holidays 2027
- 11
- on weekdays
- 11
- bridge days
- 0
- off for 3 days of annual leave
- 11 days
How 2027 works in New Zealand
New Zealand has 11 public holidays in 2027, taken from the official government list. Every one falls on a weekday.
New Zealand
ZealandiPhoto: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLeave rules differ by employer and contract in New Zealand, so the planner shows every budget from one to ten days. Among the 16 countries we cover outside our main markets, New Zealand ranks number 10 for full days off this year.
New ZealandZealandiPhoto: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAll public holidays 2027 in New Zealand, one by one
Here is each day off in date order, what it marks, and the quickest way to turn it into a longer break.
- Friday, 1 January: New Year's Day. New Year's Day falls in the middle of the summer holidays, when beaches, lakes and campgrounds across New Zealand are full. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 1 to 4 January.
- Monday, 4 January: Day after New Year's Day. New Zealand adds 2 January to New Year's Day, giving two days off in a row in the middle of the summer holidays, when beaches and campgrounds are at their busiest. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 1 to 4 January.
- Monday, 8 February: Waitangi Day. Waitangi Day on 6 February marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, the country's founding document. Ceremonies take place at the Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 6 to 8 February.
- Friday, 26 March: Good Friday. Good Friday opens New Zealand's Easter weekend, when most shops close by law. Easter falls in autumn, a lovely season for wine regions and lakes. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 26 to 29 March.
- Monday, 29 March: Easter Monday. Easter Monday closes the four day Easter weekend. Autumn colours in Central Otago and Hawke's Bay make it a good time for a short trip. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 26 to 29 March.
- Monday, 26 April: Anzac Day. Anzac Day on 25 April remembers New Zealanders and Australians who served and died in war. The day starts with dawn services at memorials across the country. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 24 to 26 April.
- Monday, 7 June: King's Birthday. The King's Birthday on the first Monday of June gives New Zealand's first winter long weekend, which traditionally opens the ski season. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 5 to 7 June.
- Friday, 25 June: Matariki. Matariki marks the Māori New Year, when the Matariki star cluster rises in midwinter. It is a time to remember the dead, celebrate the present and plan the year ahead, with festivals and light shows. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 25 to 27 June.
- Monday, 25 October: Labour Day. Labour Day on the fourth Monday of October celebrates the eight hour working day. It is a spring long weekend, a good time for gardens, vineyards and the first tramps of the season. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 23 to 25 October.
- Monday, 27 December: Christmas Day. Christmas in New Zealand comes in early summer, with barbecues, pōhutukawa trees in bloom and the start of the long summer break. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 25 to 28 December.
- Tuesday, 28 December: Boxing Day. Boxing Day brings sales and cricket, and it is the real start of the summer holidays, when many New Zealanders head to the bach or the campground. You get 4 free days in a row, 25 to 28 December, with no leave needed.
Where your days of leave go furthest in 2027
Each break below starts and ends on a free day, contains at least one public holiday, and needs no more than 10 days of leave. They are ranked by how many days off each day of leave brings.
25 December 2026 to 4 January 2027: 3 days of leave (29 to 31 December) around Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Day after New Year's Day give 11 days off, 3.7 days for every day used.
6 to 14 February: 4 days of leave (9 to 12 February) around Waitangi Day give 9 days off, 2.3 days for every day used.
Around Good Friday and Easter Monday, 4 days of leave on Mon 22 March, Tue 23 March, Wed 24 March and Thu 25 March unlock 10 days away, 20 to 29 March.
24 April to 2 May: 4 days of leave (27 to 30 April) around Anzac Day give 9 days off, 2.3 days for every day used.
5 to 13 June: 4 days of leave (8 to 11 June) around King's Birthday give 9 days off, 2.3 days for every day used.
25 December 2027 to 4 January 2028: 3 days of leave (29 to 31 December) around Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Day after New Year's Day give 11 days off, 3.7 days for every day used.
The best breaks 2027 in New Zealand
Every row is a run of weekends, public holidays and days of leave. The highlighted row brings the most days off per day of leave.
| Dates | Result | Leave on | Bank holidays | School holidays | Plan a trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Dec 25 to Mon, Jan 4 | 11 days offfor 3 days of annual leave, 3.67 days off per day of leave | Tue, Dec 29 · Wed, Dec 30 · Thu, Dec 31 | Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Day after New Year's Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Feb 6 to Sun, Feb 14 | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Feb 9 · Wed, Feb 10 · Thu, Feb 11 · Fri, Feb 12 | Waitangi Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Mar 20 to Mon, Mar 29 | 10 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.5 days off per day of leave | Mon, Mar 22 · Tue, Mar 23 · Wed, Mar 24 · Thu, Mar 25 | Good Friday, Easter Monday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Apr 24 to Sun, May 2 | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Apr 27 · Wed, Apr 28 · Thu, Apr 29 · Fri, Apr 30 | Anzac Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Jun 5 to Sun, Jun 13 | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Jun 8 · Wed, Jun 9 · Thu, Jun 10 · Fri, Jun 11 | King's Birthday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Jun 19 to Sun, Jun 27 | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Mon, Jun 21 · Tue, Jun 22 · Wed, Jun 23 · Thu, Jun 24 | Matariki | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Oct 23 to Sun, Oct 31 | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Oct 26 · Wed, Oct 27 · Thu, Oct 28 · Fri, Oct 29 | Labour Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Dec 25 to Tue, Jan 4 | 11 days offfor 3 days of annual leave, 3.67 days off per day of leave | Wed, Dec 29 · Thu, Dec 30 · Fri, Dec 31 | Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Day after New Year's Day | none | Plan a trip |
What 1 to 10 days of leave bring
For each budget, the longest run of days off in 2027.
3 days of annual leave
11 days
December 25 to January 4
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Day after New Year's Day
8 days of annual leave
18 days
December 18 to January 4
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Day after New Year's Day
2027 calendar for New Zealand
- Bank holiday
- Annual leave in a break
- Weekend
- School holidays
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
The maths: days of leave in, days off out
Three days stretch to 11 days off (25 December 2027 to 4 January 2028). Five days, a typical week, become 11 days off around Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Day after New Year's Day, 25 December 2027 to 4 January 2028.
Ten days, the most this planner books in one go, give 18 days in a row, 18 December 2027 to 4 January 2028. For nine days or more away you need 3 days of leave.
2027 through the seasons
Summer: New Year's Day on 1 January, Day after New Year's Day on 4 January, Waitangi Day on 8 February, Christmas Day on 27 December and Boxing Day on 28 December. The pick of the season is 25 December 2026 to 4 January 2027 with 3 days of leave for 11 days off.
Autumn: Good Friday on 26 March, Easter Monday on 29 March and Anzac Day on 26 April. The pick of the season is 20 to 29 March with 4 days of leave for 10 days off.
Winter: King's Birthday on 7 June and Matariki on 25 June. The pick of the season is 5 to 13 June with 4 days of leave for 9 days off.
Spring: Labour Day on 25 October. The pick of the season is 23 to 31 October with 4 days of leave for 9 days off.
New Zealand next to the other countries
South Korea has the most with 18 public holidays in 2027, Mexico the fewest with 6. New Zealand sits in between with 11.
Mexico
South KoreaiPhoto: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsIts best break, 25 December 2026 to 4 January 2027, returns 3.7 days off per day of leave. 13 countries get a better ratio this year, mostly thanks to an extra public holiday next to a weekend.
MexicoSouth KoreaiPhoto: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Long Weekend Planner 2027 for New Zealand as a PDF
Every stretch, holiday and school break in NZ on one printable page. Plus The Sunday Getaway every week and a note whenever a long weekend is worth it.
Public holidays 2027 in New Zealand
| Date | Weekday | Bank holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Friday | New Year's Day | nationwide |
| January 4 | Monday | Day after New Year's Day | nationwide |
| February 8 | Monday | Waitangi Day | nationwide |
| March 26 | Friday | Good Friday | nationwide |
| March 29 | Monday | Easter Monday | nationwide |
| April 26 | Monday | Anzac Day | nationwide |
| June 7 | Monday | King's Birthday | nationwide |
| June 25 | Friday | Matariki | nationwide |
| October 25 | Monday | Labour Day | nationwide |
| December 27 | Monday | Christmas Day | nationwide |
| December 28 | Tuesday | Boxing Day | nationwide |
Long weekend ideas from New Zealand
New Zealanders spend long weekends in Queenstown and Wanaka for summer lakes and winter skiing, the Bay of Islands and the Coromandel in summer, and the wine regions of Marlborough and Hawke's Bay in autumn. Rotorua suits any season.
Your strongest breaks this year fall in December, February and March, so pick the trip that suits that season, and book early: everyone else in New Zealand has the same days off.
New Zealand in other years
2026 and 2028 are planned as well, each with its own dates and breaks.
Holiday dates move every year: fixed-date days change their weekday, and Easter moves between late March and late April, which is why the best breaks are never the same twice.
Where these dates come from
Every date on this page comes from the official source for New Zealand, read directly and compared day by day with an independent second source. A year appears once its official list is published, and we never fill a gap with another country's dates.
The planner treats weekends and full public holidays as free days and works out where your days of leave turn into the longest time off. Days kept in part of New Zealand or as observances are shown but never counted. Last checked on 1 October 2026.
Long Weekend Planner 2027 in NZ: frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does New Zealand have in 2027?
11 public holidays: New Year's Day on 1 January, Day after New Year's Day on 4 January, Waitangi Day on 8 February, Good Friday on 26 March, Easter Monday on 29 March, Anzac Day on 26 April, King's Birthday on 7 June, Matariki on 25 June, Labour Day on 25 October, Christmas Day on 27 December and Boxing Day on 28 December.
What is the best long weekend in New Zealand in 2027?
25 December 2026 to 4 January 2027: 3 days of leave give 11 days off around Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Day after New Year's Day.
How many days of leave do I need for nine days off in 2027?
3 days of leave: take 29 to 31 December off and you are off 25 December 2027 to 4 January 2028.
Is Good Friday a public holiday in New Zealand in 2027?
Yes. Good Friday is a full day off on Friday, 26 March.
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in New Zealand in 2027?
No. Christmas Eve is not on New Zealand's official list for 2027, so it is a regular workday unless your employer gives it.
2027 in the other countries
How the Long Weekend Planner works
Holidays: the public holidays from the official list in NZ, checked date by date. The planner counts only days off for the whole region.
Stretches: start and end on a day off, include at least one holiday and at most 10 days of annual leave. Ranked by days off per day of leave; Saturday and Sunday count as free.
School holidays: officially published dates only, checked every month. Trip ideas: the month's climate and flights from the region's main airport.
