Unlike Russia, New Zealand has not so many public holidays during the year: in total, there are just 10 days of public holidays not to mention anniversaries of New Zealand cities and regeons. As a general rule, all New Zealand public holidays occure on a specific date, however there are few exceptions. For example, Queen’s Birthday traditionally celebrated on first Monday of June and Labour Day happens on fourth Monday of October.
Besides, there are few christian public holidays, which are celebrated exceptionally on Fridays and Mondays, like for example, Good Friday and Easter Monday. Also, if public holidays suddenly occurs on Saturday or Sunday, then following Monday is declared to be public holiday. Few public holidays go in row – Boxing day (26th December) happens straight after Christmas (25th December); Day after New Year’s Day (2nd January) goes after New Year’s Day (1st January). Thus, here in New Zealand we have long weekends few times per year, suddenly and unexpectedly. Most of public holidays occurs during summer period and sometimes we have situation, when long holidays follow each other, resulting in two four day working week!
In theory, long weekend should give you a lot of advantages, including a potential chance to have a rest and visit some places you never go during usual “short” weekend due to the remoteness of the place and/or tedious road. However, it doesn’t work well in practice and leads to price increase for accomodation and plane tickets and also creates an enourmous huge traffic jams on the roads. Actually, what would you expect if the whole country decided to have getaway for a long weekend? 🙂 One of the benefits: it is really good to stay in a city during the long weekend, walk, enjoy and explore its suburbs without any rush. For example, during this time Auckland is very silent – it has minimum of cars, the almost complete absence of people, birds singing and fresh air. Yes, it can be even cleaner! 🙂
As an option, (if you allowed by your job) you can take two day offs and try to leave the city before long weekend starts, avoiding the the trafic jams and drive back one day later afer the long weekend ends. Or you can get just one day off and try to leave/arrive one day earlier/later, it’s up to you. As for us, we decided that we are not leaving Auckland during the long weekends and stay in the city, enjoying the walking in different suburbs and parks, visiting local beaches, museums and art-galleries in CBD. And then, on the next normal weekend, we go somewhere outside the city to spend these two days and enjoy peace and quiet which are garanteed 90%
Table below illustrates public holiday in New Zealand for any year (common holidays are in bold):
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January, 1st |
| Day after New Year’s Day | January, Monday 2nd |
| Wellington Anniversary | Monday closest to 22 January |
| Auckland Anniversary | Monday closest to 29 January |
| Nelson Anniversary | January, Monday 30th |
| Waitangi Day | February 6th |
| Taranaki Anniversary | March, Monday 13th |
| Otago Anniversary | March, Monday 20th |
| Good Friday | Please check with Christian Festivals |
| Easter Monday | Please check with Christian Festivals |
| Easter Tuesday | Please check with Christian Festivals |
| Southland Anniversary | April, Tuesday 18th |
| ANZAC Day | April, 25th |
| Queen’s Birthday | 1st Monday of June |
| South Canterbury Anniversary | September, Monday 25th |
| Hawke’s Bay Anniversary | October, Friday 20th |
| Labour Day | 4th Monday of October |
| Marlborough Anniversary | October, Monday 30th |
| Canterbury Anniversary | November, Friday 17th |
| Chatham Islands Anniversary | November, Monday 27th |
| Westland Anniversary | December, Monday 4th |
| Christmas Day | December 25th |
| Boxing Day | December 26th |
How do you spend long weekends in New Zealand? What’s your secret? Where do you go usually? Which place is your favourite? 😉
Ivan Grigoryev's Blog
Living in New Zealand. Blogging about the country, beautiful places, everyday life.
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