Annual leave and public holidays in New Zealand 2026

How many paid days off you get in New Zealand depends on the legal minimum, your contract and the public holidays that fall on working days. The calculator above counts them for your own case. Below you will find the legal minimum, the 2026 public holidays and the family leave rules.

Your annual leave

The legal minimum in New Zealand is 20 working days a year on a five-day week. In 2026, 11 public holidays fall on working days (national, on working days). In the example (20 days of leave in the contract) that makes 31 paid days off in all.

At least 4 weeks of paid annual holidays after 12 months of work, plus 12 public holidays (holidays on a weekend move to the next working day for most of them) and a regional anniversary day, which is not shown. Sick leave is 10 days a year after 6 months.

Public holidays 2026 in New Zealand

Family leave

• Paid parental leave: Up to 26 weeks for the primary carer (can be shared), plus up to 52 weeks of unpaid extended leave · Pay: 100% of average weekly earnings, at most $811.05 a week before tax (from 1 July 2026)
• Partner’s leave: 1 or 2 weeks around the birth · Pay: Unpaid
• Working for Families: Weekly tax credits for families with children · Pay: Income-tested, not included here
• Sick leave: 10 days a year after 6 months of work, carried over up to 20 days · Pay: 100% of pay

Frequently asked questions

Rules and official sources: see “Rules applied (2026)” above. Last checked: October 2026. The amounts are estimates for information, not financial or legal advice.