School terms and holiday dates

Terms and holiday dates for state schools and kura and state-integrated schools to support school boards, administrators, principals and parents/caregivers to plan their calendars.

Level of compliance Main audience Other

Inform

  • Boards
  • Administrators
  • Principals and tumuaki
  • Parents, caregivers and whānau
  • General public

Holidays and mandatory half-days are statutory requirements for state and state-integrated schools and kura.

Requirements for term dates, holidays and school closures

2024 school terms and holidays

Term 1

Number of weeks

10

Term start and end dates

Starts between Monday 29 January (at the earliest) and Wednesday 7 February (at the latest)

Ends Friday 12 April (90-102 half days)

Public holidays

Waitangi Day – Tuesday 6 February

Easter: Good Friday 29 March, Easter Monday 1 April, Easter Tuesday 2 April (a school holiday)

School holidays

Saturday 13 April to Sunday 28 April

Includes:

  • ANZAC Day – Thursday 25 April

Term 2

Number of weeks

10

Term start and end dates

Monday 29 April to Friday 5 July (96 half days)

Public holidays

King’s Birthday – Monday 3 June

Matariki – Friday 28 June

School holidays

Saturday 6 July to Sunday 21 July

Term 3

Number of weeks

10

Term start and end dates

Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September (100 half days)

Public holidays

None

School holidays

Saturday 28 September to Sunday 13 October

Term 4

Number of weeks

10

Term start and end dates

Starts Monday 14 October

Ends no later than Friday 20 December (up to 98 half days)*

Public holidays

Labour Day – Monday 28 October 

School holidays

5 to 6 weeks (from school’s closing day until the opening date the following year)

Inlcudes:

  • Christmas Day – Wednesday 25 December
  • Boxing Day – Thursday 26 December
  • New Year's Day – Wednesday 1 January 2025
  • Day after New Year's Day – Thursday 2 January 2025

* For primary, intermediate and special schools: or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for a minimum of 384 half days in 2024.

For secondary and composite schools: or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half days in 2024.

Intended school terms and holidays for 2025

Term 1

Number of weeks

Between 9 and 11

Term start and end dates

Starts between Monday 27 January (at the earliest) and Friday 7 February (at the latest)

Ends Friday 11 April (92-108 half days)

Public holidays

Waitangi Day – Thursday 6 February

School holidays

Saturday 12 April to Sunday 27 April

Includes:

  • Good Friday 18 April
  • Easter Monday 21 April
  • Easter Tuesday 22 April (a school holiday)
  • Anzac Day – Friday 25 April

Term 2

Number of weeks

9

Term start and end dates

Monday 28 April to Friday 27 June (86 half days)

Public holidays

King’s Birthday – Monday 2 June

Matariki Friday – 20 June

School holidays

Saturday 28 June to Sunday 13 July 

Term 3

Number of weeks

10

Term start and end dates

Monday 14 July to Friday 19 September (100 half days)

Public holidays

None

School holidays

Saturday 20 September to Sunday 5 October

Term 4

Number of weeks

Up to 11

Term start and end dates

Starts Monday 6 October

Ends no later than Friday 19 December (up to 108 half days)*

Public holidays

Labour Day – Monday 27 October

School holidays

5 to 6 weeks (from school's closing date until opening date of school the following year)

Inlcudes:

  • Christmas Day – Thursday 25 December
  • Boxing Day – Friday 26 December
  • New Year's Day – Thursday 1 January 2026
  • Day after New Year's Day – Friday 2 January 2026

* For primary, intermediate and specialist schools: or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for a minimum of 386 half days in 2025.

For secondary and composite schools: or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half days in 2025.

Intended school terms for 2026

Unfortunately, we are not able to set the 2026 dates due to a change needed in the regulations. With the change of government late last year, we expect to see these dates confirmed around May 2024.

Requirements for term dates, holidays and school closures

Below is an indication of what the 2026 dates will likely be. These still need to be approved by the Minister of Education and are therefore subject to change.

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Starts between Monday 26 January (at the earliest) and Monday 9 February (at the latest)

Ends Thursday 2 April

Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September

Starts Monday 12 October

Ends no later than Friday 18 December

How are the school terms and holiday dates used?

State and state-integrated schools and kura

The New Zealand school year is usually divided into 4 terms. 

There is usually a 2-week break between each of the first 3 terms and a summer holiday at the end of Term 4 of about 6 weeks.

Early learning services

Each early learning service determines when they are open and closed throughout the year. Contact the early learning service directly or check their website for details about opening and closing dates.  

Private schools

Private schools have greater legislative freedom and are able to vary their opening hours and school year.

Teacher-only days

Schools are governed by their school board. Boards may vary which days the school is open and they may decide to close at certain times, for example, for teacher-only days or local events.

There is no maximum number of teacher-only days, but schools must be open for a minimum number of half days each calendar year. (For example, in 2024, schools must be open 384 half days.)

Requirements for term dates, holidays and school closures

We encourage schools to:

  • consult with their community and where possible align their dates with other schools
  • give their community at least 1 term’s notice of teacher-only days.

If you have a question about your school’s teacher-only days, contact the school’s principal in the first instance.

Curriculum and assessment teacher-only days

There are a small number of additional teacher-only days set for 2024 that support schools to implement specific key changes in the education system. Schools do not need to 'make up' this time in order to meet their half-day requirements.

Curriculum and assessment teacher-only days

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