New Zealand State Primary, Intermediate and Secondary School Holidays

School holiday dates with term start, term finish, public holidays and regional anniversary holiday dates

Updated with the latest changes for 2008-2011

2008  2009  2010  2011

Changes to New Zealand School Terms

State schools' terms and holidays were changed in 2006. The New Zealand Government had been told by schools and the public that the school year should start later, finish closer to Christmas and there should be a greater alignment between primary and secondary schools.

Since 2006, the school year begins in February, either immediately after Waitangi Day (February 6) or as close to that date as possible. Term three for secondary and composite (year 1-13) schools will include a week's holiday to enable secondary schools to take part in national winter sports tournaments. The changes mean the secondary school year will finish later and much closer to the end of the primary school year. The New Zealand Qualifications Authority will start the external National Certificate of Education exams a week later as a result of the changes.

PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

Term 1 - Tues Jan 29 to Thursday Feb 7 - Friday 18 April (98-110 half-days)

Term 2 - Monday 5 May - Friday 4 July (88 half-days)

Term 3 - Monday 21 July - Friday 26 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 - Monday 13 October - no later than Friday19 December (98 half-days) *

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 384 half-days in 2008.

SECONDARY AND COMPOSITE SCHOOLS

Term 1 - Tues Jan 29 to Thursday Feb 7 - Friday 18 April (98-110 half-days)

Term 2 - Monday 5 May - Friday 4 July (88 half-days)

Term 3 - Monday 21 July - Friday 26 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 - Monday 13 October - Wednesday 17 December (94 half-days) *

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half-days in 2008.

2008 Holidays

Schools must be closed in 2008 on Saturdays and Sundays and on the following holidays

New Years Day 1 January
Day after New Years Day 2 January
Waitangi Day Wednesday 6 February
Good Friday 21 March
Easter Monday 24 March
Day after Easter Monday 25 March
Anzac Day Friday 25 April
Queen's Birthday Monday 2 June
Labour Day Monday 27 October
Christmas Day 25 December
Boxing Day 26 December
 

and the relevant Anniversary Day Holidays

Auckland - Monday 28 January

Taranaki - Monday 10 March

Hawkes' Bay - Friday 24 October

Wellington - Monday 21 January

Marlborough - Monday 3 November

Nelson - Monday 4 February

Canterbury - Friday 14 November

Canterbury (South) - Monday 22 September

Westland - Monday 1 December

Otago - Monday 24 March

Southland - Monday 14 January

PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

Term 1 - Tuesday 27 Jan and Thursday Feb 5 - Thursday 9 April (90 - 104 half-days)

Term 2 - Monday 27 April - Friday 3 July (98 half-days)

Term 3 - Monday 20 July - Friday 25 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 - Monday 12 October - no later than Friday 18 December (98 half-days) *

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 386 half-days in 2009.

SECONDARY AND COMPOSITE SCHOOLS

Term 1 - Tuesday 27 Jan and Thursday Feb 5 - Thursday 9 April (90 - 104 half-days)

Term 2 - Monday 27 April - Friday 3 July (98 half-days)

Term 3 - Monday 20 July - Friday 25 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 - Monday 12 October - Tuesday 15 December (92 half-days) *

 * Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half-days in 2009.

2009 Holidays

Schools must be closed in 2009 on Saturdays and Sundays and on the following holidays

New Years Day 1 January
Day after New Years Day 2 January
Waitangi Day Friday 6 February
Good Friday 10 April
Easter Monday 13 April
Day after Easter Monday 14 April
Anzac Day Saturday 25 April
Queen's Birthday Monday 1 June
Labour Day Monday 26 October
Christmas Day 25 December
Boxing Day 26 December

and the relevant Anniversary Day Holiday as listed below

Auckland - Monday 26 January

Taranaki - Monday 9 March

Hawkes' Bay - Friday 23 October

Wellington - Monday 19 January

Marlborough - Monday 2 November

Nelson - Monday 2 February

Canterbury - Friday 13 November

Canterbury (South) - Monday 28 September

Westland - Monday 7 December

Otago - Monday 23 March

Southland - Monday 19 January

PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

Term 1 - Tuesday 2 Feb and Friday Feb 5 - Thursday 1 April (80 - 86 half-days)

Term 2 - Monday 19 April - Friday 2 July (108 half-days)

Term 3 - Monday 19 July - Friday 24 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 - Monday 11 October - no later than Monday 20 December (100 half-days) *

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 388 half-days in 2010.

SECONDARY AND COMPOSITE SCHOOLS

Term 1 - Tuesday 2 Feb and Friday Feb 5 - Thursday 1 April (80 - 86 half-days)

Term 2 - Monday 19 April - Friday 2 July (108 half-days)

Term 3 - Monday 19 July - Friday 24 September (100 half-days)

Term 4 - Monday 11 October - Tuesday 14 December (92 half-days) *

 * Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half-days in 2010.

2010 Holidays

Schools must be closed in 2009 on Saturdays and Sundays and on the following holidays

New Years Day 1 January
Day after New Years Day 2 January
Waitangi Day Saturday 6 February
Good Friday 2 April
Easter Monday 5 April
Day after Easter Monday 6 April
Anzac Day Sunday 25 April
Queen's Birthday Monday 7 June
Labour Day Monday 25 October
Christmas Day 25 December
Boxing Day 26 December

and the relevant Anniversary Day Holiday as listed below

Auckland - Monday 1 February

Taranaki - Monday 8 March

Hawkes' Bay - Friday 22 October

Wellington - Monday 25 January

Marlborough - Monday 1 November

Nelson - Monday 1 February

Canterbury - Friday 12 November

Canterbury (South) - Monday 27 September

Westland - Monday 29 November

Otago - Monday 22 March

Southland - Monday 19 January

The usual length of each school term has been adjusted for 2011. Terms One and Two are slightly longer than usual and Term Four is two weeks shorter. This adjustment has been made to align the October term holiday with the final stages of the 2011 Rugby World Cup Tournament.

PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

Term 1 - Tuesday 1 Feb and Monday Feb 7 - Friday 15 April (100 - 108 half-days)

Term 2 - Monday 2 May - Friday 15 July (108 half-days)

Term 3 - Monday 1 August - Friday 7 October (100 half-days)

Term 4 - Tuesday 25 October - no later than Tuesday 20 December (82 half-days) *

* Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 390 half-days in 2011.

SECONDARY AND COMPOSITE SCHOOLS

Term 1 - Tuesday 1 Feb and Monday Feb 7 - Friday 15 April (100 - 108 half-days)

Term 2 - Monday 2 May - Friday 15 July (108 half-days)

Term 3 - Monday 1 August - Friday 7 October (100 half-days)

Term 4 - Tuesday 25 October - no later than Tuesday 13 December (72 half-days) *

 * Or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half-days in 2011.

2011 Holidays

Schools must be closed in 2009 on Saturdays and Sundays and on the following holidays

and the relevant Anniversary Day Holiday as listed below

Auckland - Monday 31 January

Taranaki - Monday 14 March

Hawkes' Bay - Friday 21 October

Wellington - Monday 24 January

Marlborough - Monday 31 October

Nelson - Monday 31 January

Canterbury - Friday 11 November

Canterbury (South) - Monday 26 September

Westland - Monday 5 December

Otago - Monday 21 March

Southland - Monday 17 January

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