What the Act says

Regulations made under the Education and Training Act 2020 specify when all state and state-integrated schools and kura:

• must be open, including the terms and school year length
• must be closed, including public holidays, anniversary days and weekends
• may choose to open or close.

Education (When State Schools Must Be Open and Closed) Regulations 2024 – New Zealand Legislation

A school or kura can apply to us to use different term dates and opening times. Contact your regional office for support.

Private schools have greater legislative freedom than state and state-integrated schools and can vary their opening hours and school year.

School year and terms length

State and state-integrated schools and kura can choose to start and end their school year between these dates:

• Term 1 can start between Auckland Anniversary Day (the Monday closest to 29 January) and the day after Waitangi Day (6 February).
• Term 4 must end no later than 20 December in any year.
• All other term dates are set by the Minister of Education.

Schools and kura must be open for instruction for a specified number of half days each year. If a one-off issue means you cannot meet this minimum requirement, contact your regional office.

A school is open for instruction when compulsory organised learning is taking place for all student year levels. This can include online learning, NCEA study leave and school trips outside the classroom.

A half day is being open for instruction for a minimum of 2 hours.

For secondary and composite schools the requirement is 380 half days. For primary, intermediate and special schools it can vary between a minimum of 380 half days and a maximum of 390. This variable length is due to the shifting timing of Easter.

Schools sharing common community interests should work together to set a common start date for their community.

School closures

State and state-integrated schools and kura must close on:

• Saturdays and Sundays
• public holidays and observed provincial anniversary days
• the Tuesday following Easter.

The board of a state or state-integrated school or kura may choose to close for other reasons such as:

• teacher preparation
• teacher-only days
• in-service training days
• a bereavement or other traumatic event
• local events including local gala or show days.

As the school is not open for instruction on these days, the school will need to make up for them by December 20 to meet the required minimum number of half days in a year.

Paid union meetings

Members of the Post Primary Teacher’s Association (PPTA) and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) are entitled to attend at least 2 paid union meetings per year.

During these meetings, the board must arrange for the school to remain open for instruction.

Paid union meetings – Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa

Varying school hours

Boards may vary the start and end time of the school day but must first consult with parents, staff and their community. They do not need approval from us.

Schools and kura must be open for:

• 1 half day that ends before noon, and
• 1 half day that starts after noon.

Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa has guidelines for boards that want to vary their school opening hours.

Varying school hours – Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa