Easter gives New Zealand a four-day weekend from Good Friday to Easter Monday. Because its date follows the moon, Easter moves between late March and late April, and that changes how it interacts with school holidays, Anzac Day and the end of daylight saving.
Easter dates
| Holiday | Actual date | Observed weekday date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Friday 2026 | Fri, 3 Apr 2026 | Fri, 3 Apr 2026 | Friday |
| Easter Monday 2026 | Mon, 6 Apr 2026 | Mon, 6 Apr 2026 | Monday |
| Good Friday 2027 | Fri, 26 Mar 2027 | Fri, 26 Mar 2027 | Friday |
| Easter Monday 2027 | Mon, 29 Mar 2027 | Mon, 29 Mar 2027 | Monday |
Which days are public holidays
Good Friday and Easter Monday are national public holidays. Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are not public holidays, but Easter Sunday is a restricted trading day for shops. Easter Tuesday is not a public holiday, although in Southland it is generally used as the regional anniversary day, and it is a school holiday in the national school calendar. Check your school's calendar for any teacher-only days next to it.
Trading rules over Easter
Under the Shop Trading Hours Act, most shops must stay closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. There are exemptions, including many dairies, service stations, pharmacies, cafés and restaurants, and some tourist areas. Since 2016, local councils can adopt a policy allowing shops to open on Easter Sunday in their district, so the answer depends on where you are. Alcohol sales are also restricted on these days. Plan supermarket shopping for Thursday or Saturday.
Why Easter is good value for leave
Easter is the best-value break of the year for many Monday–Friday workers. Taking the four working days after Easter Monday, or the four before Good Friday, turns a four-day weekend into ten consecutive days off. When Anzac Day falls close to Easter, as it can in April, the same amount of leave can stretch even further.
Autumn travel tips
Easter often brings settled autumn weather, quieter roads than summer and the start of the school holidays in some years. It is also a popular weekend for family camping, so book early for holiday parks. Daylight saving ends on the first Sunday in April, so if Easter falls on that weekend, remember the clocks go back an hour.
Make the most of your leave
These plans count national public holidays and weekends for someone who usually works Monday to Friday. They are worked out from the dates above; regional anniversaries and your own roster can make them better or worse.
Easter 2026
- No leave → 4 days off: Fri, 3 Apr 2026 to Mon, 6 Apr 2026.
- 1 day of leave → 5 days off: Fri, 3 Apr 2026 to Tue, 7 Apr 2026. Leave on Tue, 7 Apr 2026.
- 2 days of leave → 6 days off: Fri, 3 Apr 2026 to Wed, 8 Apr 2026. Leave on Tue, 7 Apr 2026, Wed, 8 Apr 2026.
- 3 days of leave → 7 days off: Fri, 3 Apr 2026 to Thu, 9 Apr 2026. Leave on Tue, 7 Apr 2026, Wed, 8 Apr 2026, Thu, 9 Apr 2026.
- 4 days of leave → 10 days off: Fri, 3 Apr 2026 to Sun, 12 Apr 2026. Leave on Tue, 7 Apr 2026, Wed, 8 Apr 2026, Thu, 9 Apr 2026, Fri, 10 Apr 2026.
- 5 days of leave → 11 days off: Fri, 3 Apr 2026 to Mon, 13 Apr 2026. Leave on Tue, 7 Apr 2026, Wed, 8 Apr 2026, Thu, 9 Apr 2026, Fri, 10 Apr 2026, Mon, 13 Apr 2026.
In 2026 this falls during school holidays for state and state-integrated schools, so expect busier roads and accommodation. Nearby regional days: Otago anniversary (Mon, 23 Mar 2026); Southland anniversary (Tue, 7 Apr 2026).
Easter 2027
- No leave → 4 days off: Fri, 26 Mar 2027 to Mon, 29 Mar 2027.
- 1 day of leave → 5 days off: Fri, 26 Mar 2027 to Tue, 30 Mar 2027. Leave on Tue, 30 Mar 2027.
- 2 days of leave → 6 days off: Fri, 26 Mar 2027 to Wed, 31 Mar 2027. Leave on Tue, 30 Mar 2027, Wed, 31 Mar 2027.
- 3 days of leave → 7 days off: Fri, 26 Mar 2027 to Thu, 1 Apr 2027. Leave on Tue, 30 Mar 2027, Wed, 31 Mar 2027, Thu, 1 Apr 2027.
- 4 days of leave → 10 days off: Fri, 26 Mar 2027 to Sun, 4 Apr 2027. Leave on Tue, 30 Mar 2027, Wed, 31 Mar 2027, Thu, 1 Apr 2027, Fri, 2 Apr 2027.
- 5 days of leave → 11 days off: Fri, 26 Mar 2027 to Mon, 5 Apr 2027. Leave on Tue, 30 Mar 2027, Wed, 31 Mar 2027, Thu, 1 Apr 2027, Fri, 2 Apr 2027, Mon, 5 Apr 2027.
In 2027 this falls during the school term for state and state-integrated schools. Nearby regional days: Taranaki anniversary (Mon, 8 Mar 2027); Otago anniversary (Mon, 22 Mar 2027); Southland anniversary (Tue, 30 Mar 2027).
Try your own dates in the leave planner →
If you work on the day
If a public holiday falls on a day you would otherwise work and you do work, the Holidays Act 2003 entitles you to be paid at least time and a half, and to an alternative holiday (a paid day off in lieu). If you would otherwise work but have the day off, you are paid as usual. Rosters, shift patterns and employment agreements affect the details, so check Employment New Zealand's guidance or talk to your employer.
Questions people ask
Is Easter Sunday a public holiday in New Zealand?
No. Easter Sunday is not a public holiday, but it is a restricted trading day, so many shops are closed unless an exemption or local council policy applies.
Is Easter Tuesday a public holiday?
Not nationally. It is generally Southland's anniversary day and is a school holiday in the national school calendar. Confirm with your employer or school.
Ideas for the long weekend
Autumn colour in Central Otago and Queenstown is at its best around Easter in many years, and geothermal Rotorua is a good wet-weather option. Start with: Queenstown, Rotorua, Christchurch to Queenstown road trip.
Plan a trip
Looking for somewhere else? Browse getaway ideas and road trips, or see every long weekend in 2027.
Other holiday guides: New Year · Waitangi Day · Anzac Day · King's Birthday · Matariki · Labour Day · Christmas