Many New Zealanders observe Anzac Day on April 25. It commemorates the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) at Gallipoli, Turkey, during World War I in 1915. This event, also observed in Australia, remembers all New Zealanders who served their country in wars and conflicts.
Is ANZAC Day a Public Holiday?
ANZAC Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.
What Do People Do?
Many New Zealanders attend parades, dawn ceremonies or commemorative ceremonies on Anzac Day. The Anzac Day parades involve returned service personnel wearing their medals while marching behind banners. Defence force members, cadets and youth organizations also join in the parade.
It’s also common to lay wreaths to remember New Zealanders who fought and died in past wars and conflicts. Some people travel to be part of a commemorative service at Gallipoli, in Turkey, on Anzac Day.
Public Life
Anzac Day is a public holiday in New Zealand. Schools, government offices, and many businesses are closed.
Background
Anzac Day, on April 25, is the anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli during World War I in 1915. The Australian and New Zealander soldiers were part of an Allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula. Close to 3000 New Zealand soldiers died during the eight-month Gallipoli campaign.
Anzac Day has been a public holiday in New Zealand since 1921. However, it was observed as early as 1916. A civic delegation in Wellington persuaded the government to gazette April 25 as a general half-day holiday. By 1920 it was apparent that most New Zealanders wanted Anzac Day observed as a sacred day and later that year the government introduced a bill to make Anzac Day a national holiday.
ANZAC Day Observances
Year
Weekday
Date
Name
Holiday Type
2016
Mon
Apr 25
ANZAC Day
National holiday
2017
Tue
Apr 25
ANZAC Day
National holiday
2018
Wed
Apr 25
ANZAC Day
National holiday
2019
Thu
Apr 25
ANZAC Day
National holiday
2020
Sat
Apr 25
ANZAC Day
National holiday
2020
Mon
Apr 27
Day off for ANZAC Day
National holiday
2021
Sun
Apr 25
ANZAC Day
National holiday
2021
Mon
Apr 26
Day off for ANZAC Day
National holiday
2022
Mon
Apr 25
ANZAC Day
National holiday
2023
Tue
Apr 25
ANZAC Day
National holiday
2024
Thu
Apr 25
ANZAC Day
National holiday
2025
Fri
Apr 25
ANZAC Day
National holiday
2026
Sat
Apr 25
ANZAC Day
National holiday
2026
Mon
Apr 27
Day off for ANZAC Day
National holiday
While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.