Here’s how to turn 7 days of annual leave into 17 days off in 2026!

Want to make the most of your annual leave in 2026? This one's for you!

If you’re already dreaming of your next summer escape or a mid-year getaway, here’s your chance to make every annual leave day count. With a bit of planning, you can turn a few clever calendar moves into long weekends, 10-day breaks, and even a full two-week holiday - all without burning through your entire leave balance.

Here’s how to make the most of New Zealand’s public holidays in 2026.

National Public Holidays in 2026

New Year's Day - Thursday, 1 January
Day after New Year's Day - Friday, 2 January
Waitangi Day - Friday, 6 February
Good Friday - Friday, 3 April
Easter Monday - Monday, 6 April
ANZAC Day - Saturday, 25 April (observed Monday, 27 April)
King’s Birthday - Monday, 1 June
Matariki - Friday, 10 July
Labour Day - Monday, 26 October
Christmas Day - Friday, 25 December
Boxing Day - Saturday, 26 December (observed Monday, 28 December)

Regional Anniversary Days

In addition to national public holidays, New Zealand observes regional anniversary days. Here are the regional anniversary days for 2026:

Wellington Anniversary Day - Monday, 19 January
Auckland Anniversary Day - Monday, 26 January
Nelson Anniversary Day - Monday, 2 February
Taranaki Anniversary Day - Monday, 9 March
Otago Anniversary Day - Monday, 23 March
Southland Anniversary Day - Tuesday, 7 April
South Canterbury Anniversary Day - Monday, 28 September
Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day - Friday, 23 October
Marlborough Anniversary Day - Monday, 2 November
Canterbury Anniversary Day - Friday, 13 November
Chatham Islands Anniversary Day - Monday, 30 November
Westland Anniversary Day - Monday, 30 November

Note: These dates are only observed within the respective regions.

Pro Tip: Combine regional anniversary days with nearby public holidays to squeeze in even longer breaks. For example, Auckland Anniversary (Mon 26 Jan) + Waitangi Day (Fri 6 Feb) can create a couple of clever long weekends early in the year.

Christmas 2025 → New Year 2026

Christmas Day and Boxing Day in 2025 fall on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 December, making it the perfect springboard into a long summer break.

Take six days of annual leave - Monday 22, Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24, along with Monday 29, Tuesday 30, Wednesday 31 December 2025 and you’ll enjoy a 16-day holiday from Saturday 20 December through Wednesday 7 January.

It’s the ideal way to finish the year refreshed and start 2026 with a proper reset.

Waitangi Day - February 6

Waitangi Day lands on Friday February 6 in 2026, meaning you get a ready-made long weekend without taking any leave at all. Or you can use an extra day of leave to extend it into a four day weekend.

If you’re based in Auckland or Nelson, pair it with your regional anniversary and you could stretch it even further.

Easter and Anzac Day - April

Easter comes early in 2026, with Good Friday on April 3 and Easter Monday on April 6. Just a few weeks later, Anzac Day falls on Saturday, April 25 (observed Monday, April 27).

Here’s the smart play: take annual leave from Tuesday 7 April to Friday 10 April and you’ll turn four days of leave into a 10-day holiday from Friday 3 April to Sunday 12 April.

Then for another mid-autumn break, you could take four days off - Tuesday 28 April to Friday 1 May - and you’ll turn those into a 9-day holiday, from Saturday 25 April to Sunday 3 May. Or for a longer long weekend, simply take 1 extra day on either Friday 24 April, or Tuesday 28 April.

King’s Birthday - June 1

King’s Birthday brings the first mid-year chance for a decent break. The public holiday lands on Monday, June 1, so you already have a three-day weekend to look forward to.

For a long weekend, take Friday, May 29 off and enjoy four days away - perfect for a quick escape, a staycation, or just a chance to unwind.

Or, for something longer, book Tuesday, June 2 to Friday, June 5. That’s four annual leave days for a full nine-day break from Saturday, May 30 to Sunday, June 7 - just enough time for a winter getaway or to recharge before the second half of the year kicks in.

Matariki - July 10

Just over a month later comes Matariki, the Māori New Year - a time to remember those who’ve passed, celebrate the present, and plan for the future. It’s a beautiful opportunity to slow down, connect with loved ones, and reset your energy mid-year.

The public holiday falls on Friday, July 10, giving everyone a long weekend to mark the occasion.

To stretch it out, take Monday, July 13 off for a four-day weekend from Friday to Monday.

Or, for the ultimate midwinter break, take Monday 6 to Thursday 9 July off - turning four annual leave days into nine days off from Saturday, July 4 to Sunday, July 12.

Labour Day - October 26

Spring brings another perfect long-weekend opportunity with Labour Day on Monday, October 26.

If you’re craving a quick getaway before the year-end rush, take an extra day to turn it into a four day weekend.

Christmas 2026 → New Year 2027

The festive season of 2026 offers one of the best opportunities for a major break. Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 December, with observance on Monday 28 December, while New Year’s Day and the Day After fall on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 January 2027, observed on Monday 4 January 2027.

Book three annual leave days - Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30, Thursday 31 December 2026 - and you’ll score an incredible 11 days off in a row, from Christmas Day on Friday 25 December through Monday 4 January.

Or four extra annual leave days either before Christmas or in after New Years for a mamoth 17 days off in a row.

That’s the ultimate summer stretch to enjoy everything from beach days and road trips to long, lazy BBQs with friends and family.

What about school terms in 2025?

While exact start dates for individual schools differ, Term 1 starts between Monday, January 26 and Monday, February 9 (at the latest).

Term 1: 10 weeks long. Last day is Thursday, April 2. Includes the Waitangi Day public holiday on Friday, February 6.
Term 2: 11 weeks long. Begins Monday, April 20 and ends Friday, July 3, and includes two public holidays: ANZAC Day observed on Monday, April 27 and King’s Birthday on Monday, June 1.
Term 3: 10 weeks long. Begins Monday, July 20 and ends Friday, September 25. There are no public holidays in Term 3.
Term 4: 10 weeks long. Begins Monday, October 12 and ends Friday, December 18, and includes the Labour Day public holiday on Monday, October 26.

Time to get planning!

A little forward planning goes a long way when it comes to getting the most out of your annual leave. With a few smartly placed days off, you can enjoy multiple extended holidays in 2026 — without running out of leave before the year’s even halfway through.

Start booking early, line up your dream getaways, and make 2026 the year you actually take every bit of time you deserve.