Good Friday 2023 Friday 7 April
Good Friday 2024 Friday 29 March
Good Friday is a public holiday in New Zealand, and it is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday.
Good Friday has a significant religious and cultural significance for Christians around the world, as it commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
The observance of Good Friday in New Zealand can be traced back to the arrival of European missionaries in the early 19th century.
The first recorded observance of Good Friday in New Zealand was in 1814, when Samuel Marsden, a Church of England missionary, held a service in the Bay of Islands.
Over time, the observance of Good Friday became more widespread, and it was recognized as a public holiday in New Zealand in 1875.
The Shops and Trading Act of 1904 made it illegal to open shops on Good Friday, and this law was in place until 1980 when the Shop Trading Hours Act was passed.
Today, Good Friday is still observed as a public holiday in New Zealand, and most businesses, including shops and restaurants, are closed.
Many churches hold services to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and some people also observe the day by abstaining from certain foods or activities as a sign of respect and remembrance.