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 |
|---|---|---|
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Inform
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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
- 2025 school terms and holidays
- 2026 school terms and holidays
- Calendar
- How are the school terms and holiday dates used?
- Teacher-only days
- More information
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:
|
|
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) Includes:
|
* 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.
2025 school terms and holidays
|
Term 1 |
|
|---|---|
|
Number of weeks |
Up to 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:
|
|
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 |
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) |
* 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.
2026 school terms and holidays
|
Term 1 |
|
|---|---|
|
Number of weeks |
Up to 10 |
|
Term start and end dates |
Starts between Monday 26 January (at the earliest) and Monday 9 February (at the latest) Ends Thursday 2 April (78-96 half days) |
|
Public holidays |
Waitangi Day – Friday 6 February |
|
School holidays |
Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April Includes:
|
|
Term 2 |
|
|---|---|
|
Number of weeks |
11 |
|
Term start and end dates |
Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July (106 half days) |
|
Public holidays |
Anzac Day – Saturday 25 April (Anzac Day observed on Monday 27 April) King’s Birthday – Monday 1 June |
|
School holidays |
Saturday 4 July to Sunday 19 July (includes Matariki Friday 10 July) |
|
Term 3 |
|
|---|---|
|
Number of weeks |
10 |
|
Term start and end dates |
Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September (100 half days) |
|
Public holidays |
None |
|
School holidays |
Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October |
|
Term 4 |
|
|---|---|
|
Number of weeks |
Up to 11 |
|
Term start and end dates |
Monday 12 October Ends no later than Friday 18 December (up to 98 half days)* |
|
Public holidays |
Labour Day – Monday 26 October |
|
School holidays |
5 to 6 weeks (from school's closing date until opening date of school the following year) |
* 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 382 half-days in 2026.
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 2026.
Terms, holidays and cohort entry dates 2025-2026 [DOCX, 46 KB]
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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