# New Zealand Anniversary Days 2026–27: Group Planning > Regional anniversary days close local businesses on different dates. The 2026–27 dates, Canterbury Show Day and what to plan. Source: https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-23-new-zealand-anniversary-days-2026-27-group-planning/ Planning 23 October 2026 · Explera Trade Desk · 3 min read ![A harness racing horse and driver in red and white silks on a grass-edged track](https://www.explera.co.nz/assets/blog/harness-race-driver-red-white-silks-1400.webp) **Short answer:** New Zealand has eleven national public holidays and a regional anniversary day for each province, observed on different dates. From late October 2026 to March 2027 they fall in Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Canterbury, Westland, Wellington, Auckland, Nelson, Taranaki, Otago and Southland. Explera DMC New Zealand checks them for every group itinerary. An anniversary day is a public holiday only in its own region. Banks, offices and some shops close there, staff are paid holiday rates, and locals take a long weekend, so a group can meet a quiet city or a full motel on the same day. ## When are the anniversary days in 2026–27? These are the observed dates. Employment New Zealand notes that some local dates can differ, so we confirm them with the region before we quote. - **Hawke's Bay.** Friday 23 October 2026. - **Marlborough.** Monday 2 November 2026. - **Canterbury (Show Day).** Friday 13 November 2026. - **Westland.** Monday 30 November 2026. - **Wellington.** Monday 25 January 2027. - **Auckland.** Monday 1 February 2027. - **Nelson.** Monday 1 February 2027. - **Taranaki.** Monday 8 March 2027. - **Otago.** Monday 22 March 2027. - **Southland.** Tuesday 30 March 2027, the day after Easter Monday. ![A calendar for October on a wooden table beside a clock and a notebook](https://www.explera.co.nz/assets/blog/october-desk-calendar-wooden-table-1400.webp) *A calendar for October on a wooden table beside a clock and a notebook* ## Why does Canterbury's Show Day matter? Canterbury Anniversary Day is known locally as Show Day. It falls on the Friday of New Zealand Cup and Show Week in Christchurch, a week of harness and horse racing and the Canterbury A&P Show. Christchurch is busier than usual that week, so we hold rooms early for groups in the city. Race and show dates are set by their organisers, and we confirm them before we build a programme around them. ![A judge inspecting sheep in the pens at an agricultural show](https://www.explera.co.nz/assets/blog/sheep-judging-agricultural-show-pens-1400.webp) *A judge inspecting sheep in the pens at an agricultural show* ## What should agents plan for? - **Long weekends.** Monday and Friday holidays create long weekends, when locals travel and regional hotels fill. - **Back-to-back holidays in February.** Auckland and Nelson's anniversary day on Monday 1 February is followed by Waitangi Day, observed on Monday 8 February 2027, as 6 February falls on a Saturday. - **Holiday surcharges.** Some cafés and restaurants add a surcharge on public holidays. We tell groups where we know of one. - **Opening hours.** Most attractions open, but some local services close. We confirm opening hours for each stop. - **Easter in the south.** Southland's anniversary day follows Easter Monday, so a group in Invercargill or Te Anau that week meets a four-day local holiday. ## How Explera DMC New Zealand can help We plan [group tours](https://www.explera.co.nz/services/group-tours-new-zealand/) and [hotels and lodges](https://www.explera.co.nz/services/hotels-and-lodges-new-zealand/) for travel agents and tour operators around the regional calendar. See our [2027 school and public holidays guide](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-11-new-zealand-school-public-holidays-2027-group-planning/), our [Christmas and New Year 2026–27 guide](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-21-new-zealand-christmas-new-year-2026-27-public-holidays-groups/) and our [Te Kaha stadium guide](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-14-christchurch-te-kaha-stadium-event-groups/). ## FAQ **What is a regional anniversary day?** A public holiday observed only in one province of New Zealand, marking its founding. Each region has its own date. **When is Canterbury Show Day 2026?** Friday 13 November 2026. It is Canterbury's anniversary day and falls on the Friday of New Zealand Cup and Show Week in Christchurch. **When are the Auckland and Wellington anniversary days in 2027?** Wellington's is on Monday 25 January 2027 and Auckland's on Monday 1 February 2027. **Do attractions close on anniversary days?** Most stay open, but banks, offices and some local services close, and some cafés add a holiday surcharge. We confirm opening hours for each stop. **Are the dates fixed?** These are the observed dates for 2026–27. Employment New Zealand advises that some local dates vary, so we confirm them with each region before we quote. ## Sources - [Public holidays and anniversary dates](https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/public-holidays/public-holidays-and-anniversary-dates), Employment New Zealand, checked 20 October 2026 - [Dates for public holidays and anniversary days](https://www.govt.nz/browse/work/public-holidays-and-work/public-holidays-and-anniversary-dates/), govt.nz, checked 20 October 2026 - [New Zealand Cup and Show Week and Canterbury Anniversary](https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/new-zealand-cup-and-show-week-and-canterbury-anniversary/), Christchurch City Libraries, checked 20 October 2026 ## Talk to the trade desk Explera DMC New Zealand trade desk — b2b@explera.co.nz, WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090, B2B portal [b2b.expleradmc.com](https://b2b.expleradmc.com). Destinations in this briefing [Hawke's Bay](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/hawkes-bay/)[Marlborough Wine Country](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/marlborough/)[Wellington](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/wellington/)[Auckland](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/auckland/)[Nelson](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/nelson/)[New Plymouth & Taranaki](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/taranaki/)[Christchurch](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/christchurch/)[Invercargill & Bluff](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/invercargill/)[Te Anau & Fiordland](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/te-anau/) ## Talk to the trade desk *Your New Zealand DMC partner* From a single FIT to series groups and full MICE programmes, every New Zealand proposal is costed by hand against your brief at net rates. Send your requirements as a new email with a descriptive subject line. [b2b@explera.co.nz](mailto:b2b@explera.co.nz) [WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090](https://wa.me/66936568090) ## More from the trade blog. *Keep reading* [All posts](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/) [Subscribe via RSS](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/rss.xml) - [Tongariro River Trail, Tūrangi: New Bridge for Groups](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-23-tongariro-river-trail-turangi-new-bridge-groups/) - [ACC for Overseas Visitors to New Zealand: Agent Guide](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-22-acc-cover-overseas-visitors-travel-insurance-groups/) - [Cruise Border Levy Cut from July 2027: What Changes](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-22-cruise-border-processing-levy-cut-july-2027-groups/)