New Zealand School Holidays

The New Zealand school year is divided into four terms, with the longest break being over the Christmas/summer period.

In addition, there are Public Holidays in New Zealand when schools and many businesses are closed. Generally these days commemorate a particular occasion or aspect of significance to the country.

School holidays and public holidays can be busy at the main tourist spots, particularly in the summer.

Traffic can be congested in and out of the main cities at the beginning and end of holiday weekends (the public holidays often occur on a Friday or Monday, creating in effect a 'long' weekend.). The most popular holiday places are the Bay of Islands, Coromandel, Taupo and Queenstown

Accommodation - particularly at backpackers, campsites and motels - can also be hard to find during the peak summer holiday times so it pays to book as far ahead as you can.

New Zealand School Term Dates for 2013

Term 1 - Monday 28 Jan - Friday 19 April
Term 2 - Monday 6 May - Friday 12 July
Term 3 - Monday 29 July - Friday 27 September
Term 4 - Monday 14 October - no later than Friday 20 December

New Zealand School Term Dates for 2014

Term 1 - Between Monday 27 January (at the earliest); and Friday 7 February (at the latest) - Thursday 17 April
Term 2 - Monday 5 May - Friday 4 July
Term 3 - Monday 21 July - Friday 26 September
Term 4 - Monday 13 October - no later than Friday 19 December

NZ public holiday dates 2012-16

	Actual Date	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
New Years Day	1 January	Sunday 1 January	Tuesday 1 January	Wednesday 1 January	Thursday 1 January	Friday 1 January
Day after New Years Day	2 January	Monday 2 Jan	Wednesday 2 January	Thursday 2 January	Friday 2 January	Monday4 January
Waitangi Day	6 February	Monday 6 Feb	Wednesday 6 February	Thursday 6 February	Friday 6 February	Saturday 6 February
Good Friday	varies	Friday 6 April	Friday 29 March	Friday 18 April	Friday 3 April	Friday 25 March
Easter Monday	varies	Monday 9 April	Monday 1 April	Monday21 April	Monday6 April	Monday28 March
ANZAC Day	25 April	Wednesday 25 April	Thursday 25 April	Friday 25 April	Saturday 25 April	Monday25 April
Queen's Birthday	1st Monday in June	Monday 4 June	Monday 3 June	Monday2 June	Monday1 June	Monday6 June
Labour Day	4th Monday in October	Monday 22 October	Monday 28 October	Monday27 October	Monday26 October	Monday24 October
Christmas Day	25 December	Tuesday 25 December	Wednesday 25 December	Thursday 25 December	Friday 25 December	Sunday 25 December
Boxing Day	26 December	Wednesday 26 December	Thursday 26 December	Friday 26 December	Monday28 December	Monday 26 December
Province	Actual Date	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
Auckland	29 January	Monday 30 January	Monday 28 January	Monday 27 January	Monday 26 January	Monday 1 February
Taranaki	31 March	Monday 12 March	Monday 11 March	Monday 10 March	Monday 9 March	Monday 14 March
Hawkes' Bay	1 November	Friday 19 October	Friday 25 October	Friday 24 October	Friday 23 October	Friday 21 October
Wellington	22 January	Monday 23 January	Monday 21 January	Monday 20 January	Monday 19 January	Monday 25 January
Marlborough	1 November	Monday 29 October	Monday 4 November	Monday 3 November	Monday 2 November	Monday 31 October
Nelson	1 February	Monday 30 January	Monday 4 February	Monday 3 February	Monday 2 February	Monday 1 February
Canterbury	16 December	Friday 16 November	Friday 15 November	Friday 14 November	Friday 13 November	Friday 11 November
Canterbury (South)	16 December	Monday 24 September	Monday 23 September	Monday 22 September	Monday 28 September	Monday 26 September
Westland	1 December	Monday 3 December	Monday 2 December	Monday 1 December	Monday 30 November	Monday 5 December
Otago	23 March	Monday 26 March	Monday 25 March	Monday 24 March	Monday 23 March	Monday 21 March
Southland	17 January	Monday 16 January	Monday 14 January	Monday 20 January	Monday 19 January	Monday 18 January
Chatham Islands	30 November	Monday 3 December	Monday 2 December	Monday 1 December	Monday 30 November	Monday 28 November