New Zealand Long Weekends 2028
New Zealand produces 7 long weekends in 2028 — every break of three days or more that its public holidays actually create. The longest runs 4 days (Jan 1–4). Substitute days turn several weekend holidays into real days off this year.
New Zealand long weekends in 2028
New Year
4 daysJan 1 – 4
Sat–Tue: New Year’s Day and the day after both fall on the weekend, so Mondayisation pushes them to Monday Jan 3 and Tuesday Jan 4 — four days in a row.
Waitangi Day
3 daysFeb 5 – 7
Sat–Mon: Waitangi Day falls on a Sunday, so the public holiday moves to Monday Feb 7.
Easter
4 daysApr 14 – 17
Good Friday and Easter Monday bracket the weekend — four days off.
King's Birthday
3 daysJun 3 – 5
Matariki
3 daysJul 14 – 16
Fri–Sun: Matariki always falls on a Friday, so it always creates a three-day weekend — in 2028 in the middle of the southern winter school holidays.
Labour Day
3 daysOct 21 – 23
Christmas
4 daysDec 23 – 26
Sat–Tue: the weekend runs into Christmas Day on the Monday and Boxing Day on the Tuesday — four days with no Mondayisation required.
Interactive Leave & Bridge Days Planner
Select your country, year, and annual leave budget to calculate the highest-ROI vacation strategies. Bridge mid-week holidays into continuous mega-breaks.
18 Bridge Strategies Found
Anzac Day
Apr 22 – 25•Total Vacation: 4 days
Take 1 day of annual leave on Apr 24 to bridge Anzac Day with the weekend for a 4-day vacation.
New Year's Day (observed)
Jan 1 – 9•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 3 days of annual leave on Jan 5 – 7 to connect New Year's Day (observed) into a 9-day continuous break.
Christmas Day
Dec 23 – 31•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 3 days of annual leave on Dec 27 – 29 to connect Christmas Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Good Friday
Apr 8 – 17•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Apr 10 – 13 to connect Good Friday into a 10-day continuous break.
Good Friday
Apr 14 – 23•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Apr 18 – 21 to connect Good Friday into a 10-day continuous break.
Good Friday
Apr 14 – 25•Total Vacation: 12 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Apr 18 – 21, Apr 24 to connect Good Friday into a 12-day continuous break.
Waitangi Day (observed)
Feb 5 – 13•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Feb 8 – 11 to connect Waitangi Day (observed) into a 9-day continuous break.
Anzac Day
Apr 22 – 30•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Apr 24, Apr 26 – 28 to connect Anzac Day into a 9-day continuous break.
King's Birthday
Jun 3 – 11•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Jun 6 – 9 to connect King's Birthday into a 9-day continuous break.
Matariki
Jul 8 – 16•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Jul 10 – 13 to connect Matariki into a 9-day continuous break.
Labour Day
Oct 21 – 29•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Oct 24 – 27 to connect Labour Day into a 9-day continuous break.
New Year's Day (observed)
Dec 25, 2027 – Jan 4, 2028•Total Vacation: 11 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Dec 27 – 31 to connect New Year's Day (observed) into a 11-day continuous break.
Christmas Day
Dec 16 – 26•Total Vacation: 11 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Dec 18 – 22 to connect Christmas Day into a 11-day continuous break.
Waitangi Day (observed)
Jan 29 – Feb 7•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Jan 31 – Feb 4 to connect Waitangi Day (observed) into a 10-day continuous break.
King's Birthday
May 27 – Jun 5•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on May 29 – Jun 2 to connect King's Birthday into a 10-day continuous break.
Matariki
Jul 14 – 23•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Jul 17 – 21 to connect Matariki into a 10-day continuous break.
Labour Day
Oct 14 – 23•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Oct 16 – 20 to connect Labour Day into a 10-day continuous break.
Anzac Day
Apr 25 – 30•Total Vacation: 6 days
Take 3 days of annual leave on Apr 26 – 28 to connect Anzac Day into a 6-day continuous break.
Compliance Notice: Leave planning recommendations are calculated for vacation optimization. Taking annual leave is subject to your employment contract, employer approval, and local labor legislation.
The 7 long weekends of 2028
New Year — Jan 1–4 (4 days); Waitangi Day — Feb 5–7 (3 days); Easter — Apr 14–17 (4 days); King's Birthday — Jun 3–5 (3 days); Matariki — Jul 14–16 (3 days); Labour Day — Oct 21–23 (3 days); Christmas — Dec 23–26 (4 days)
Full list: New Year (Jan 1–4) Waitangi Day (Feb 5–7) Easter (Apr 14–17) King's Birthday (Jun 3–5) Matariki (Jul 14–16) Labour Day (Oct 21–23) Christmas (Dec 23–26) — 7 consecutive-day breaks in total.
How New Zealand builds its long weekends
Long weekends come from public holidays landing next to weekends (or substitute days extending them). The table above lists only real calendar breaks — a 7-day count means 7 separate runs of consecutive days off.
How to plan around them
The 7 breaks above are the ones the calendar gives you for free. The longest (New Year, 4 days, Jan 1–4) is the best anchor for a longer trip; the others work well for short getaways. Check the linked year page for make-up workdays that may surround the longer breaks.
Official sources & data
- Public holidays and anniversary datesVisit sourceEmployment New Zealand
- Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022 — Schedule 1, Dates of Matariki Observance DayVisit sourceNew Zealand Legislation
- Matariki dates 2022–2052 — Matariki Advisory CommitteeVisit sourceMinistry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE)
- Holidays Act 2003Visit sourceNew Zealand Legislation
Frequently asked questions
How many long weekends does New Zealand have in 2028?
7 — every break of three consecutive days or more that New Zealand's public holidays create in 2028. The longest is New Year with 4 days off.
What is the longest long weekend in New Zealand in 2028?
New Year — 4 days (Jan 1–4).
Which public holidays create long weekends in New Zealand 2028?
New Year, Waitangi Day, Easter, King's Birthday, Matariki, Labour Day, Christmas. Each is listed above with its exact dates.
Does New Zealand have substitute days for weekend holidays?
Yes — New Zealand's substitute-day rules add weekday days off when a holiday falls on a weekend, which is why several of the 2028 long weekends above include a substitute day.
Are the 2028 long weekend dates confirmed?
Yes — New Zealand's 2028 holidays are confirmed, and the long weekends above derive directly from them.