7 min read

A guide to school holidays in New Zealand

Use our guide to help you understand how the school term is structured in New Zealand throughout the year and plan accordingly.
Francesca Arnott
· January 27, 2025
A guide to school holidays in New Zealand

If you’re moving to New Zealand from overseas, navigating school holidays might be a little different from what you’re used to. Knowing when the holidays fall means you can plan your year and make the most of these breaks.

Use our guide to help you understand how the school term is structured throughout the year and plan accordingly.

How is the New Zealand school term structured?

New Zealand's school year is divided into four terms of about ten weeks each. Throughout the year students will get public holidays off, several two-week breaks between the end of one term and the start of another, and a long break over the Christmas and summer holidays.

These breaks are a great way to spend time together as a family or even explore the country! Whether you're planning a family getaway, looking for activities to keep the kids entertained, or simply need to know when school is out, here's everything you need to know about school holidays in New Zealand.

The New Zealand school term structure

In New Zealand, our school year is split into four terms. Most schools start in late January or early February and will run until mid-December.

  • Term 1: Late January / Early February – April (usually 10 weeks)
  • Term 2: May – July (usually 10 weeks)
  • Term 3: July – September (usually 9 weeks)
  • Term 4: October – December (usually 9 weeks)

There can be variations in how long term 4 can be for in high school, as national exams take place in November in December. Students in Years 11, 12 and 13 have time off to study and only attend school to sit their exams. They aren’t expected to go to classes during this time.

New Zealand school term breaks and holidays

Summer holidays (December to January)

At the start of every year, students in New Zealand are enjoying their summer holidays. The holidays span from mid-December (or earlier for tertiary institutes and older secondary students), and run through until late January or early February.

These holidays mark the end of the academic year. They are also a busy time for most families as Christmas and New Year's Day fall during this period. Many people use this time to visit family or plan a summer getaway after the Christmas period is over. The warmer weather makes it the perfect time to enjoy the coast, visit a beachside town, or plan an outdoor adventure.

Autumn Holidays (April)

The Autumn holidays usually coincide with Easter, taking place at the end of Term 1 in early April. This two-week break is a great opportunity to enjoy the cooler weather. Usually, there are enough sunny days to book your last camping trip or outdoor adventure that doesn’t involve skiing.

Winter Holidays (July)

The winter holidays are generally in early or mid-July, following the end of Term 2. These holidays last two weeks and are the perfect time for a skiing holiday or for just enjoying some time off indoors. Whether you’re hitting the ski slopes on some of New Zealand's best ski fields, enjoying your favourite indoor activities, or embracing the winter sports scene, there are plenty of options for enjoying your time off.

Spring Holidays (September / October)

The spring holidays are at the end of Term 3 and usually last for two weeks, running from late September into early October. These holidays can be an important break for older students. Not only do they get some much-needed time off, it’s also their final chance to study intensely before their school exams start in Term 4.

Whether you’re studying or not, spring is the perfect season for outdoor adventures. It’s warm enough for hiking and biking—many towns start holding outdoor events again or you can use this time for cleaning and prepping for the end of the school year.

Teacher only days

Throughout the school year, New Zealand schools will have ‘teacher-only’ days when students are not required to attend school. During this time, teachers are engaged in professional development or planning.

These days vary from school to school. They are often added to the end of a term break but are sometimes held on separate days throughout the year. It’s always a good idea to check your child’s school calendar for these specific dates at the start of the year.

Public holidays during the school term

During term time, your child will also get New Zealand’s public holidays off. As most workers also get public holidays off, these days are a great way for families to spend more time together.

The most common public holidays during school breaks include:

Waitangi Day (6 February)

Marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and is observed during the first few weeks of Term 1.

If the holiday falls on a weekend, the following Monday is taken as a day off.

Easter (Good Friday & Easter Monday)

The Easter holidays often fall within the Autumn or Term 2 break, making it a great time for a short trip or family celebrations.

Matariki (June / July)

In 2022, New Zealand introduced a new public holiday to celebrate Matariki—New Zealand’s official Māori New Year.

As the date differs according to the appearance of the Pleiades star cluster, this day off can fall within the winter break or during term time.

Labour Day (fourth Monday in October)

This holiday usually falls during the spring holidays, offering a chance for a long weekend getaway.

How to make the most of school holidays in New Zealand

Here are a few things you can do to get the most out of these holidays.

Explore local activities

You don’t have to go far to have a good break as a family. Make your break more affordable by exploring your local parks, beaches and trails with your kids. New Zealand has a range of fun activities for families, such as parks, beaches, museums, and nature walks. Many towns and cities also host school holiday programmes, workshops, or day camps that can be a great way to keep kids engaged.

Cultural and sporting events

Look out for special events, including festivals, concerts, and sporting competitions taking place during school holidays. These are great opportunities to experience New Zealand’s laid-back culture and outdoor lifestyle.

Educational opportunities

If you prefer to blend fun with learning, there are places to visit that offer educational programmes. Science centres, art galleries, and historical sites around New Zealand often hold special school holiday programmes for kids.

Things to consider during school holidays

Summer camps aren’t common

Summer camps are common in the United States, but don’t really exist in New Zealand. Most holiday programmes only run during the day and summer camping usually involves the whole family.

Plan for childcare

Holidays are great for children, but can often come with the stress of planning for childcare. In New Zealand, children under the age of 14 cannot be left by themselves at home. If you are a working parent, plan to take some leave during this time or arrange alternative care for younger kids.

Book early

If you’re planning to go away as a family, book flights and accommodation early. Flying domestically can be expensive in New Zealand, especially during term time. Make sure you book flights at least a few months in advance.

School-specific breaks

While school holidays generally follow the national calendar, individual schools may have slightly different start and end dates. Check the exact dates your school plans to have off for holidays each year.

Moving during school holidays

School holidays in New Zealand are the perfect opportunity for families to recharge, enjoy quality time together, and take advantage of everything our country has to offer. They can also be an ideal time to move house! Wise Move takes the stress out of finding a mover during the school holidays. Whether you need to move now, or at the end of term, we make it easy to organise your move.

What do our customers say?

Read reviews of Wise Move to learn stories from our customers.
$575
Motorcycle Aprilia RS125
Tauranga, Tauriko
Christchurch, Hillsborough
10
Alex
Reviewed 12 minutes ago
Cracking service, was kept updated throughout including a delivered confirmation that the end customer was happy too. Would happily use Moovinbikesnthings again. Thanks guy!!!
$1,800
Westport, West Coast
Palmerston North, Palmerston North Central
10
Tina
Reviewed 25 minutes ago
High recommended. Jacob is a great communicator.
$691
Double bed base, Double bed mattress, 6x Boxes - per photo, Drawers, D...
Christchurch, Strowan
Wellington, Aro Valley
9.5
Dennis
Reviewed 1 hour ago
We highly recommend the movers. They were excellent in communicating, flexible and great to deal with.
$400
Small ATV Trailer
Puriri, Waikato
Ashley Clinton, Hawke's Bay
10
Lance
Reviewed 2 hours ago
Excellent transportation great communication
$250
Auckland, Wairau Valley
Whangārei, Onerahi
10
Sam
Reviewed 10 hours ago
Fantastic service. Transported my motorcycle. Communication was excellent, great price and punctual. Perfect.
$600
Te Awamutu, Waikato
Wellington
10
Kelli
Reviewed 12 hours ago
Amazing!! Adapt Freight is great!! Collected my car on a public holiday and delivered to my house the next day, even though I was working. Got home, it was up the drive and key fob left in correct place. Couldn't rate Leigh and her husband high enough!! So easy to deal with. Thank you 🙂
$250
Takanini, Auckland
Auckland, Papakura
10
Catherine
Reviewed 12 hours ago
Great service in all respects. I highly recommend booking with this team.
$599
2 large boxes bunnings, 1 medium box bunnings, 3 moving bags, 1x large...
Blenheim, Blenheim Central
Takanini, Conifer Grove
10
Adil
Reviewed 13 hours ago
Amazing and reliable service! Quick to respond and under such short notice! Amazing work! On time pick up and delivery! Easy and no hassle! Competitive rates and better priced! They respond to messages quickly and able to add more thing last min at competitive rates! Amazing work and would highly recommend.

For every (wise)move

TradeMe purchase pickup and delivery service across NZ
TradeMe Delivery
Get your heavy-large TradeMe purchase picked up and delivered by our movers anywhere in NZ.
Learn more
Car transport nz
Car Transport
Our professional car transport teams from across New Zealand are the best at what they do.
Learn more
Motorbike transport nz
Motorcycle Transport
Our pros take everything into consideration when ensuring the safety and well-being of your bike.
Learn more
Piano transport
Piano Move
Moving a piano requires the expertise to ensure is kept safe and protected on the road.
Learn more
Furniture removals
Furniture Removals
Our teams will treat your possessions like they would their own, ensuring that the greatest care and diligence is taken.
Learn more
Pet transport nz
Pet Transport
During the transport our teams will ensure full care, well-being and friendliness as if they were our own.
Learn more
Boat transport nz
Boat Transport
Our transport teams will ensure your boats will be delivered safely, efficiently and on time.
Learn more