Holiday planning
Long Weekends in New Zealand
New Zealand has 17 long weekends in 2026 and 16 in 2027. The longest break is 6 days. Best bridge day opportunity: take Thursday off around Good Friday for a 6-day break.
2026
View all17
Long weekends
6
Longest (days)
17
Bridge opps
- 6d
Good Friday & Easter Monday & Southland Anniversary Day
Thu 2 Apr – Tue 7 Apr
Take Thursday off
- 5d
New Year's Day & Day after New Year's Day
Wed 31 Dec – Sun 4 Jan
Take Wednesday off
- 5d
Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day & Labour Day
Thu 22 Oct – Mon 26 Oct
Take Thursday off
2027
View all16
Long weekends
6
Longest (days)
16
Bridge opps
- 6d
Good Friday & Easter Monday & Southland Anniversary Day
Thu 25 Mar – Tue 30 Mar
Take Thursday off
- 5d
New Year's Day & Day after New Year's Day
Thu 31 Dec – Mon 4 Jan
Take Thursday off
- 5d
Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day & Labour Day
Thu 21 Oct – Mon 25 Oct
Take Thursday off
Continue exploring
More for New Zealand
Public holidays
Public holidays in New Zealand 2026
All 25 public holidays with dates and day-of-week.
Public holidays
Public holidays in New Zealand 2027
Full holiday list for the following year.
Working days
Working days in New Zealand 2026
Monthly breakdown of weekdays minus public holidays.
Working days
Working days in New Zealand 2027
Working day calendar for 2027.
Frequently asked questions
How many long weekends does New Zealand have in 2026?
New Zealand has 17 long weekends in 2026 where a public holiday creates a break of three or more consecutive days.
How many long weekends does New Zealand have in 2027?
New Zealand has 16 long weekends in 2027.
What is a bridge day?
A bridge day is a regular working day between a public holiday and a weekend. Taking it as annual leave creates a longer uninterrupted break — typically 4 or 5 days using only 1 or 2 days of paid leave.
What is the best bridge day opportunity in New Zealand?
The best opportunity across 2026 and 2027 is around Good Friday & Easter Monday & Southland Anniversary Day (Fri 3 Apr – Tue 7 Apr). Take Thursday as annual leave to get a 6-day break with only 1 day of leave.