New Year's Day in New Zealand
When is New Year's Day in New Zealand?
New Year's Day in New Zealand is on January 1, 2025. It falls on Wednesday.
How many days until New Year's Day in New Zealand?
There are 16 Days left until New Year's Day in New Zealand.
Is New Year's Day a public holiday in New Zealand?
In New Zealand, New Year’s Day (or simply called New Year) is a public holiday every January 1st of each calendar year. Public holidays in New Zealand are also referred to as statutory holidays. The holiday is Mondayized, meaning, if January 1st falls on a Saturday, the public holiday will be on the following Monday, or if it falls on a Sunday, the public holiday will be on the following Tuesday. It is one of the most celebrated holidays globally since most countries follow the Gregorian Calendar. Since New Zealand is particularly located close to the International Date Line, it is one of the first countries in the world that celebrate and welcome the new year.
Origin of New Year's Day
New Year’s Day marks the beginning of a new calendar year and is celebrated worldwide on January 1sT for countries who use the Gregorian calendar.
When did New Year’s Day become a public holiday?
This holiday has been observed dating back several hundred years in New Zealand, and the 2003 Holidays Act set forth guidelines declaring New Year’s Day a public holiday. Employees must be given a paid day off from work if possible. The Holidays Act states permanent employees who work on said holiday are to be given the day off if possible, for those who must work on a holiday are to be paid time and a half. Those who are working on a holiday are also entitled to a day in lieu (alternate holiday) for which they are paid their regular pay for the day off from work.
New Year's Day Activities and Traditions in New Zealand
For the New Zealanders, they are one of the first in the world to celebrate New Year’s Day due to their country’s location on the map and the international time zone. Typically, New Zealanders do not work on this day and most of their time, from Christmas to Day After New Year’s Day, are often used for vacation, or are spent with family and friends. Many retailers offer special shopping sales during these times. This holiday also falls during New Zealand’s summer, so many take advantage of the beaches and other outdoor activities.
Auckland Fireworks Display
Although there are several fireworks displays arranged for the celebration of New Year’s Day in the country, the fireworks display in Auckland, one of the cities in New Zealand, offers some of the best as it is the country’s largest city. Many revelers ring in the new year by gathering for the midnight countdown starting on New Year’s Eve which ends in a magnificent display of aerial fireworks at the stroke of midnight. Other popular destinations where people head to witness the fireworks display include the Auckland’s Sky Tower, Auckland Harbour, Frank Kitts Park in Wellington, and North Hagley Park in Christchurch.
Music Festivals
There are at least ten popular music festivals that commence during the summer New Year’s holiday for almost every style of music. In New Zealand, the duration of the music festivals will typically be for a minimum of two days and may continue for several days.
Popular Destinations for New Year’s Day in NZ
Many people end up visiting Gisborne, a city in the North Island, New Zealand on New Year’s Day. The city attracts a lot of people at this time of year considering that its location is among those places which experience the earliest rising of the sun. To experience the Gisborne Sunrise, Gisborne city has become a popular destination among Kiwis (as native New Zealanders are known) and visitors alike on this day. Aside from this, Bungee Jumping at Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, located at the Otago region of South Island, New Zealand, is another popular choice for many New Zealanders. It is the world’s first commercial bungee jumping location. Today, this is a popular activity for thrill seekers who are looking for an exhilarating activity to start the year. In addition, celebrating New Year’s Day twice is also common among the people in New Zealand. Many families celebrate the new year first in their hometowns and then taking a four-hour plane ride early in the morning to the Cooks Islands. The Cooks Islands is a place where the islanders are also New Zealand citizens. Cooks Islands is one of the last areas to change their calendar day in the world, thus, allowing for a second celebration in one day.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | January 01 | Wednesday | New Year's Day |
| 2026 | January 01 | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| 2027 | January 01 | Friday | New Year's Day |
| 2028 | January 01 | Saturday | New Year's Day |
| 2029 | January 01 | Monday | New Year's Day |
| 2030 | January 01 | Tuesday | New Year's Day |
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2024 |
| Boxing Day | December 26, 2024 |
| New Year's Day | January 01, 2025 |
Download or print free 2024 calendar which includes the list of holidays in United States. Free holiday calendar templates in more than 130 countries are provided in PDF, Excel, and Microsoft Word format. For those who like to get a calendar that starts on Monday, we also have ISO calendar.
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