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New Zealand School Terms and Holidays 2023-2024

Children walking in forest.

Planning ahead is vital for us parents. Especially when it comes to school holidays.

We need to know when to book our annual leave from work or organise a school holiday program.

If we’re lucky – we might be booking a holiday, in which case getting in early ensures the best price.

This school holiday calendar will help. We’ve included all the New Zealand school holidays as noted by the Ministry of Education.

Check with your local school if they have other days off planned.

When are the next school holidays?

The next school holidays are the July school holidays which run from Saturday 1 July to Sunday 16 July (includes Matariki 14 July).

School Holidays and Term Dates 2023

Term 1

Term dates:

Between Monday 30 January and Tuesday 7 February (at the latest) and Thursday 6 April

Public holidays:

Waitangi Day Monday 6 February, and Easter: Good Friday, Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday

School holidays:

The New Zealand April school holidays run from Friday 7 April to Sunday 23 April (includes Good Friday – 7 April, Easter Monday – 10 April and Easter Tuesday – 11 April (a school holiday)

Term 2

Term dates

Monday 24 April to Friday 30 June

Public holidays

Anzac Day – Tuesday 25 April and King’s Birthday – Monday 5 June

School holidays

The New Zealand July school holidays run from Saturday 1 July to Sunday 16 July (includes Matariki 14 July)

Term 3

Term dates

Monday 17 July to Friday 22 September (100 half-days)

Public holidays

None

School holidays

The New Zealand October school holidays run from Saturday 23 September to Sunday 8 October

Term 4

Term dates

Starts Monday 9 October, and ends no later than Wednesday 20 December (up to 104 half-days)*

Public holidays

Labour Day – Monday 23 October, Christmas Day – Monday 25 December, Boxing Day – Tuesday 26 December and New Year’s Day – Monday 1 January 2024

School holidays

The New Zealand summer school holidays run from 5-6 weeks (from the school’s closing day until the opening date the following year).

School holidays NZ 2024

Term 1

Term dates:

Starts between Monday 29 January (at the earliest); and Wednesday 7 February (at the latest), and ends Friday 12 April (90-102 half-days)

Public holidays:

Waitangi Day – Tuesday 6 February, and Easter: Good Friday – 29 March, Easter Monday – 1 April, Easter Tuesday – 2 April (a school holiday)

School holidays:

Saturday 13 April -Sunday 28 April (includes ANZAC Day 25 April)

Term 2

Term 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 – Sunday 21 July

Term 3

Term 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

Term dates:

Starts Monday 14 October, and ends no later than Friday 20 December (up to 98 half-days)*

Public holidays:

Labour Day – Monday 28 October

School holidays:

5-6 weeks (from the school’s closing day until the opening date the following year, including Christmas Day – Wednesday 25 December, Boxing Day – Thursday 26 December and New Year’s Day – Wednesday 1 January 2025).

School Holidays – Frequently Asked Questions

What dates are NZ school holidays 2023?

April (Autumn) School Holidays: Friday 7 April to Sunday 23 April

July (Winter) School Holidays: Saturday 1 July to Sunday 16 July

October (Spring) School Holidays: Saturday 23 September to Sunday 8 October

Summer Holidays: 5-6 weeks from the school’s closing day which is no later than Wednesday 20 December until the opening date the following year).

How many weeks is a school term NZ?

In New Zealand, a school term typically lasts for 10 weeks but this can range from 9-11 weeks.

All dates sourced from Ministry of Education