Waitangi Day, on 6 February, is New Zealand's national day. It marks the first signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Treaty of Waitangi, at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands on 6 February 1840. It is both a day off at the height of summer and a day when many people reflect on the relationship between Māori and the Crown.
Waitangi Day dates
| Holiday | Actual date | Observed weekday date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waitangi Day 2026 | Fri, 6 Feb 2026 | Fri, 6 Feb 2026 | Friday |
| Waitangi Day 2027 | Sat, 6 Feb 2027 | Mon, 8 Feb 2027 Observed | Monday |
What the day commemorates
Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed by representatives of the British Crown and many Māori rangatira (chiefs), first at Waitangi and then at other places around the country during 1840. It is regarded as New Zealand's founding document. Differences between the English and te reo Māori texts, and how the Treaty has been honoured, remain an important part of national conversation. The day became a national public holiday in the 1970s.
Commemorations and events
The best-known events take place at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, with a dawn service, waka on the water, speeches and a busy whānau day. Many towns and cities hold their own free festivals, concerts and markets. If you plan to visit Waitangi itself, accommodation in Paihia and Kerikeri fills early, and roads into the Bay of Islands are busy on the days before and after.
How weekend dates move
Since 2014, Waitangi Day has been Mondayised. When 6 February falls on a Saturday or Sunday, people who would not normally work that day observe the holiday on the following Monday, creating a three-day weekend.
Shops, pay and school
Waitangi Day is a normal trading day for shops. If you work on the day and it would otherwise be a working day for you, you are entitled to time and a half and an alternative day off. Most schools have started their year by 6 February, so it often gives families a welcome break in the first weeks of term.
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.
Waitangi Day 2026
- No leave → 3 days off: Fri, 6 Feb 2026 to Sun, 8 Feb 2026.
- 1 day of leave → 4 days off: Fri, 6 Feb 2026 to Mon, 9 Feb 2026. Leave on Mon, 9 Feb 2026.
- 2 days of leave → 5 days off: Fri, 6 Feb 2026 to Tue, 10 Feb 2026. Leave on Mon, 9 Feb 2026, Tue, 10 Feb 2026.
- 3 days of leave → 6 days off: Fri, 6 Feb 2026 to Wed, 11 Feb 2026. Leave on Mon, 9 Feb 2026, Tue, 10 Feb 2026, Wed, 11 Feb 2026.
- 4 days of leave → 9 days off: Sat, 31 Jan 2026 to Sun, 8 Feb 2026. Leave on Mon, 2 Feb 2026, Tue, 3 Feb 2026, Wed, 4 Feb 2026, Thu, 5 Feb 2026.
- 5 days of leave → 10 days off: Fri, 6 Feb 2026 to Sun, 15 Feb 2026. Leave on Mon, 9 Feb 2026, Tue, 10 Feb 2026, Wed, 11 Feb 2026, Thu, 12 Feb 2026, Fri, 13 Feb 2026.
In 2026 this falls during the school term for state and state-integrated schools. Nearby regional days: Auckland anniversary (Mon, 26 Jan 2026); Wellington anniversary (Mon, 19 Jan 2026); Nelson anniversary (Mon, 2 Feb 2026).
Waitangi Day 2027
- No leave → 3 days off: Sat, 6 Feb 2027 to Mon, 8 Feb 2027.
- 1 day of leave → 4 days off: Sat, 6 Feb 2027 to Tue, 9 Feb 2027. Leave on Tue, 9 Feb 2027.
- 2 days of leave → 5 days off: Sat, 6 Feb 2027 to Wed, 10 Feb 2027. Leave on Tue, 9 Feb 2027, Wed, 10 Feb 2027.
- 3 days of leave → 6 days off: Sat, 6 Feb 2027 to Thu, 11 Feb 2027. Leave on Tue, 9 Feb 2027, Wed, 10 Feb 2027, Thu, 11 Feb 2027.
- 4 days of leave → 9 days off: Sat, 6 Feb 2027 to Sun, 14 Feb 2027. Leave on Tue, 9 Feb 2027, Wed, 10 Feb 2027, Thu, 11 Feb 2027, Fri, 12 Feb 2027.
- 5 days of leave → 10 days off: Sat, 6 Feb 2027 to Mon, 15 Feb 2027. Leave on Tue, 9 Feb 2027, Wed, 10 Feb 2027, Thu, 11 Feb 2027, Fri, 12 Feb 2027, Mon, 15 Feb 2027.
In 2027 this falls during the school term for state and state-integrated schools. Nearby regional days: Auckland anniversary (Mon, 1 Feb 2027); Wellington anniversary (Mon, 25 Jan 2027); Nelson anniversary (Mon, 1 Feb 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.
Weekend dates and Mondayisation
Six holidays can move when they fall on a weekend: New Year's Day, the Day after New Year's Day, Waitangi Day, Anzac Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. For someone who does not normally work on that weekend day, the holiday is observed on the following Monday (or Tuesday, when two holidays fall on the same weekend). If you do normally work on the weekend day, the holiday stays on its actual date for you.
Questions people ask
Is Waitangi Day always on 6 February?
The holiday itself is always 6 February. When that date is a weekend, many workers observe it on the following Monday.
Is Waitangi Day the same as Auckland Anniversary?
No. Auckland Anniversary is a regional holiday in late January or early February. In some years the two fall close together, giving northern regions two long weekends in a row.
Ideas for the long weekend
A Northland trip is the classic Waitangi weekend, but February is also one of the most settled months for weather nationwide, making it a good time for lakes and alpine walks. Start with: Rotorua, Auckland, Auckland to Rotorua 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 · Easter · Anzac Day · King's Birthday · Matariki · Labour Day · Christmas