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Holidays and mandatory half-days are statutory requirements for state and state-integrated schools and kura.
2025 school terms
Term 1 (up to 11 weeks)
Starts between Monday 27 January and Friday 7 February and ends Friday 11 April 2025 (92-108 half days).
Public holiday: Waitangi – Thursday 6 February.
Term 2 (9 weeks)
Monday 28 April to Friday 27 June 2025 (86 half days).
Public holidays: King’s Birthday – Monday 2 June and Matariki Friday – 20 June.
Term 3 (10 weeks)
Monday 14 July to Friday 19 September 2025 (100 half days).
Term 4 (up to 11 weeks)
Monday 6 October to no later than Friday 19 December 2025 (up to 108 half days) *.
Public holiday: Labour Day – Monday 27 October.
* 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.
2025 school holidays
Term 1
Saturday 12 April to Sunday 27 April 2025.
Public holidays: Good Friday 18 April, Easter Monday 21 April, Easter Tuesday 22 April (a school holiday) and Anzac Day – Friday 25 April.
Term 2
Saturday 28 June to Sunday 13 July 2025.
Term 3
Saturday 20 September to Sunday 5 October 2025.
Summer holidays
Start no later than Saturday 20 December 2025 and run for 5 or 6 weeks (from school's closing date until opening date of school the following year).
2026 school terms
Term 1 (up to 10 weeks)
Starts between Monday 26 January and Monday 9 February and ends Thursday 2 April 2026 (78-96 half days).
Public holiday: Waitangi Day – Friday 6 February.
Term 2 (11 weeks)
Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July 2026 (106 half days).
Public holidays: Anzac Day – Saturday 25 April (Anzac Day observed on Monday 27 April) and King’s Birthday – Monday 1 June.
Term 3 (10 weeks)
Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September 2026 (100 half days).
Term 4 (up to 11 weeks)
Monday 12 October to no later than Friday 18 December 2026 (up to 98 half days) *.
Public holiday: Labour Day – Monday 26 October.
* 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.
2026 school holidays
Term 1
Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April 2026.
Public holidays: Good Friday 3 April, Easter Monday 6 April, Easter Tuesday 7 April (a school holiday).
Term 2
Saturday 4 July to Sunday 19 July 2026.
Public holiday: Matariki – Friday 10 July.
Term 3
Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October 2026.
Summer holidays
Start no later than Saturday 19 December 2026 and run for 5 or 6 weeks (from school's closing date until opening date of school the following year).
2025-2026 cohort entry dates
Find out about the 2025-2026 dates for cohort entry.
Terms, holidays and cohort entry dates 2025-2026Why schools have different term dates
Schools and kura kaupapa Māori have some flexibility to decide when Term 1 starts, and when Term 4 finishes. Terms 2 and 3 are fixed.
Where possible, we align the end of the first term with the Easter holidays. This can make Term 1 shorter or longer depending on when Easter falls.
There is a set amount of teaching time that schools must be open for each year. Having flexible dates allows each school to meet this requirement and accommodate local events and teacher-only days.
Secondary schools need to open for slightly fewer days per year than primary and intermediate schools. They may close earlier at the end of the year.
When schools will close
During a school term, schools will close for:
- Saturdays and Sundays
- teacher-only days
- public holidays and local anniversary days
- the Tuesday following Easter Monday
- any emergency that requires the school to close.
Schools might also choose to close for local events like gala and show days, or for religious holidays in some communities.
Public holidays and anniversary dates – Employment New Zealand
If you're not happy with your school's term dates
We encourage schools to align term dates with other local schools where possible. If your family is impacted by variation in term dates between local schools, you can talk to your principal.
Early childhood services and private schools
Some early childhood services choose to follow the school terms and holidays. Full-time daycare services are usually open through the school holidays but close over Christmas. Check with your service.
Private schools can have different terms and holidays. They can also open on Easter Tuesday. Check with the school.
