Waitangi Day

1. Tuesday 6 February – Waitangi Day

This is New Zealand’s national day, and commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on February 6th, 1840. The Treaty was signed at James Busby’s house – now known as ‘Treaty House’ at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands. The treaty was signed by representatives for the British Crown and 500 Māori chiefs. Waitangi Day has been commemorated since 1934, and has been a public holiday since 1974.

 

2. Saturday 17 March – Saint Patrick’s Day

Saint Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. It is a cultural and religious celebration of the patron saint of Ireland – Saint Patrick – famous for introducing Christianity and banishing snakes from Ireland. In Ireland, people make barefoot pilgrimages up Mount Croagh Patrick in honour of the Saint, who is said to have fasted and prayed on the summit for forty days in 441. Masses are held at the small Chapel on the summit. The holiday is celebrated in New Zealand due to Irish diaspora around the world influencing modern celebrations. It’s a day to wear green, attend parties, dance, eat Irish food and consume Irish drinks.

 

3. Friday 30 March – Good Friday

Good Friday is the start of the four-day Easter weekend in New Zealand. To Kiwis, Easter weekend is a time for eating hot cross buns, making short trips out of town for the long weekend and spending time with family. This public holiday is a religious day that Christians remember Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. Good Friday is celebrated in New Zealand by eating hot cross buns, short trips out of town for the long weekend and plenty of family-time. Churches also have special services and some may hold long prayer vigils.

Colourful easter eggs

 

4. Sunday 1 April – Easter Sunday

The Easter Bunny makes an appearance and chocolate eggs are in large supply on Easter Sunday. Many families take part in an Easter egg hunt and churches hold special services on Easter Sunday morning, marking the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in Christian religion. The Easter Bunny and Easter egg tradition began in Germany, with the tradition of Oschter Haws brought to countries such as America and New Zealand by German immigrants. The day after, Easter Monday, is also a public holiday.

ANZAC Day Soldier

 

5. Wednesday 25 April – ANZAC Day

A public holiday and national day of remembrance, this is the day of the first landing of the ANZAC’s (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) at the beaches of Gallipoli in Turkey in 1915. ANZAC Day commemorates all New Zealand and Australian soldiers killed in war. The ANZAC forces were created in the Great War of 1914-1918 when the Australian Imperial Force and New Zealand Expeditionary Force were joined together and placed under the command of General William Birdwood. The ANZAC’s then went on to fight together in World War II and the Vietnam War. On ANZAC Day ceremonies take place across the country in the early morning. These are traditional events – poems are read (including the fourth verse of Laurence Binyon’s For the Fallen), the Last Post is played on bugle and parades are part of the ceremony. Wreathes and poppies are then laid on memorials, graves or statues commemorating soldiers who have fought in the war. The largest ceremonies are in the cities, but regional towns and villages also hold their own gatherings to remember the fallen.

 

6. Monday 4 June – Queen’s Birthday

On Queen’s birthday Kiwis take the day off and celebrate with friends and family. Queen Elizabeth II is the official head of state in New Zealand as she is Monarch of the Commonwealth realms. In 1952, she was proclaimed in New Zealand as “Queen of this Realm and of all her other Realms”. Her actual birthday is on April 21, but its celebrated as a public holiday on the first Monday of June. In New Zealand, it is the official opening of the ski season and the Queens Honours list is released in conjunction with it. As she is the Queen of England she is not involved in the actual running of the government and the Governor General is her representative in New Zealand.

 

7. Monday 22 October – Labour Day

This day commemorates the struggle for an eight-hour working day. In 1840, carpenter Samuel Parnell was the first New Zealander to receive an eight-hour day in Wellington, after a long campaign for shorter work hours. The day was first celebrated in NZ on 28th October 1890, when several thousand trade union members took the day off and businesses closed for part of the day. Up until the 1920’s, celebrations were a public spectacle, with parades, events and shows. Nowadays the day marks a long-weekend and holiday to break up three months of no public holidays, so Labour Day is always gratefully received by workers across the country!

 

8. Wednesday 31 October – Halloween

Halloween (stemming in name from All Hallows’ Eve) is becoming more popular in New Zealand. It is observed by around the world and NZ is said to have started celebrating the day due to the influence of Irish and Scottish immigrants. The Trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, horror films, haunted attractions and costume parties are all popular. The bulk of Halloween traditions stem from the Celtic festival of ‘Samhain’, which celebrated the end of harvest and the beginning of winter. The holiday is also related to the Roman Feralia festival commemorating the dead, the Roman Pomona festival honouring the goddess of fruit/trees and the Catholic “All Hallows Eve”, All Soul’s Day” and “All Saints’ Day” – an 8th century attempt by the Church to overrule the Samhain tradition.

Surfing Santa

 

9. Tuesday 25 December – Christmas Day

A public holiday and widely celebrated event, Christmas Day is a Christian religious event. Jesus Christ’s birthday is celebrated with presents for everyone, Christmas songs and events galore. In New Zealand Christmas falls in summer so there is plenty of warm fun to be had on your day off. Most Kiwis use the Christmas break as a chance to have a holiday and catch up with family or friends at holiday homes (baches) around the country. It’s also the perfect time to head to the beach and enjoy a holiday lifestyle of activities and eating.

 

10. Wednesday 26 December – Boxing Day

The day after Christmas is also a public holiday, although many stores stay open so they can make Boxing Day sales. Like Christmas, this day is also highly anticipated as another holiday day to enjoy in the leadup to the New Year.


Thanks for reading this weeks blog, stay tuned for another next week! For more information on student holidays, see our website reference list and NZ Calendar below.

 

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Why did we do this blog?
Even if we need to step in one day to help you resolve a dispute, we want you to enjoy studying and living in our amazing country as much as we do. To that end, we’ve created this content so that you may continue to explore and experience the best New Zealand can offer.
 

Key reference sites for international students regarding holidays: