What Happens When a Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend?

The quick answer

• You work Monday to Friday: for New Year’s Day, 2 January, Waitangi Day, Anzac Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, your day off moves to the following Monday (or Tuesday). You get a paid day off on that weekday.
• You normally work that Saturday or Sunday: the holiday stays on the weekend day. If you have the day off, you’re paid for it. If you work it, you get time-and-a-half plus an alternative day off.
• Your work pattern changes from week to week: it depends on whether the weekend day would “otherwise be a working day” for you. Look at your roster and your usual pattern over recent weeks.

No one gets the holiday twice. You either have it on the weekend day or on the Monday/Tuesday, not both.

Worked examples

Aroha works Monday to Friday in an office. Waitangi Day 2027 is Saturday 6 February. She doesn’t work Saturdays, so her holiday moves to Monday 8 February and she gets a normal paid day off.

Sam works in a café from Wednesday to Sunday. Anzac Day 2027 is Sunday 25 April, a day Sam would normally work. The holiday stays on Sunday 25 April. If Sam works it, he’s paid at least time-and-a-half and gets an alternative day off. Monday 26 April is an ordinary day off for him.

Mere works every day except Saturday. Christmas Day 2027 is a Saturday, which isn’t a working day for her, so it moves to Monday 27 December. Boxing Day is Sunday 26 December, which she would normally work, so it stays on the Sunday.

If you work on the public holiday

If the holiday falls on a day you would otherwise work, and you do work, you’re entitled to:

1. Pay of at least time-and-a-half for the hours you work, and
2. An alternative holiday (a day in lieu), paid at your relevant daily pay, to take on a date you agree with your employer.

If the holiday is moved to a Monday and you work that Monday, the same rules apply to the Monday.

Which holidays this applies to

Only six holidays can fall on a weekend: New Year’s Day, 2 January, Waitangi Day, Anzac Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Good Friday, Easter Monday, King’s Birthday, Labour Day and Matariki always fall on a weekday. Regional anniversary days are set by local custom and are almost always on a Monday or Friday. See how Mondayisation works for the full rules and history.

Weekend holidays coming up

Common questions from employers

• Closing for the Monday: if your business is closed on the Mondayised day, Monday–Friday staff are paid for it as a public holiday.
• Weekend staff: for staff who normally work weekends, the holiday stays on the actual date. Check rosters for both the weekend day and the Monday so no one misses out or gets the holiday twice.
• Shops: restricted trading on Christmas Day and Anzac morning applies on the actual date (for example, Saturday 25 December 2027), not the Monday.

For complex rosters, see Employment New Zealand’s guidance or get professional advice. This page is general information, not legal advice.