School terms and holidays dates

Holidays and mandatory half-days are statutory requirements for state and state-integrated schools and kura.

2024 school terms

Term 1 (10 weeks)

Starts between Monday 29 January and Wednesday 7 February and ends Friday 12 April 2024 (90-102 half days). 

Public holidays: Waitangi Day – Tuesday 6 February and Easter: Good Friday 29 March, Easter Monday 1 April, Easter Tuesday 2 April (a school holiday).

Term 2 (10 weeks)

Monday 29 April to Friday 5 July 2024 (96 half days). 

Public holidays: King’s Birthday – Monday 3 June and Matariki – Friday 28 June.

Term 3 (10 weeks)

Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September 2024 (100 half days)

Term 4 (10 weeks)

Monday 14 October to no later than Friday 20 December 2024 (up to 98 half days)*. 

Public holiday: Labour Day – Monday 28 October.

* For primary, intermediate and special schools: or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for a minimum of 384 half days in 2024. For secondary and composite schools: or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half days in 2024.

2024 school holidays

Term 1

Saturday 13 April to Sunday 28 April 2024.

Public holiday: ANZAC Day – Thursday 25 April.

Term 2

Saturday 6 July to Sunday 21 July 2024.

Term 3

Saturday 28 September to Sunday 13 October 2024.

Summer holidays

Start no later than Saturday 21 December 2024 and run for 5 or 6 weeks (from school’s closing day until the opening date the following year). 

Public holidays: Christmas Day – Wednesday 25 December, Boxing Day – Thursday 26 December, New Year's Day – Wednesday 1 January 2025 and Day after New Year's Day – Thursday 2 January 2025.

2025 school terms

Term 1 (up to 11 weeks)

Starts between Monday 27 January and Friday 7 February and ends Friday 11 April 2025 (92-108 half days).

Public holiday: Waitangi – Thursday 6 February.

Term 2 (9 weeks)

Monday 28 April to Friday 27 June 2025 (86 half days).

Public holidays: King’s Birthday – Monday 2 June and Matariki Friday – 20 June.

Term 3 (10 weeks)

Monday 14 July to Friday 19 September 2025 (100 half days).

Term 4 (up to 11 weeks)

Monday 6 October to no later than Friday 19 December 2025 (up to 108 half days) *. 

Public holiday: Labour Day – Monday 27 October.

* For primary, intermediate and specialist schools: or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for a minimum of 386 half days in 2025. For secondary and composite schools: or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half days in 2025.

2025 school holidays

Term 1

Saturday 12 April to Sunday 27 April 2025. 

Public holidays: Good Friday 18 April, Easter Monday 21 April, Easter Tuesday 22 April (a school holiday) and Anzac Day – Friday 25 April.

Term 2

Saturday 28 June to Sunday 13 July 2025.

Term 3

Saturday 20 September to Sunday 5 October 2025.

Summer holidays

Start no later than Saturday 20 December 2025 and run for 5 or 6 weeks (from school's closing date until opening date of school the following year).

2026 school terms

Term 1 (up to 10 weeks)

Starts between Monday 26 January and Monday 9 February and ends Thursday 2 April 2026 (78-96 half days).

Public holiday: Waitangi Day – Friday 6 February.

Term 2 (11 weeks)

Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July 2026 (106 half days). 

Public holidays: Anzac Day – Saturday 25 April (Anzac Day observed on Monday 27 April) and King’s Birthday – Monday 1 June.

Term 3 (10 weeks)

Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September 2026 (100 half days).

Term 4 (up to 11 weeks)

Monday 12 October to no later than Friday 18 December 2026 (up to 98 half days) *. 

Public holiday: Labour Day – Monday 26 October.

* For primary, intermediate and specialist schools: or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for a minimum of 382 half-days in 2026. For secondary and composite schools: or to a day in December which ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 380 half-days in 2026.

2026 school holidays

Term 1

Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April 2026. 

Public holidays: Good Friday 3 April, Easter Monday 6 April, Easter Tuesday 7 April (a school holiday).

Term 2

Saturday 4 July to Sunday 19 July 2026.

Public holiday: Matariki – Friday 10 July.

Term 3

Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October 2026.

Summer holidays

Start no later than Saturday 19 December 2026 and run for 5 or 6 weeks (from school's closing date until opening date of school the following year).

2025-2026 cohort entry dates 

Find out about the 2025-2026 dates for cohort entry.

Why schools have different term dates

Schools and kura kaupapa Māori have some flexibility to decide when Term 1 starts, and when Term 4 finishes. Terms 2 and 3 are fixed.

Where possible, we align the end of the first term with the Easter holidays. This can make Term 1 shorter or longer depending on when Easter falls.

There is a set amount of teaching time that schools must be open for each year. Having flexible dates allows each school to meet this requirement and accommodate local events and teacher-only days.

Secondary schools need to open for slightly fewer days per year than primary and intermediate schools. They may close earlier at the end of the year.

When schools will close

During a school term, schools will close for:

• Saturdays and Sundays
• teacher-only days
• public holidays and local anniversary days
• any emergency that requires the school to close.

Schools might also choose to close for local events like gala and show days, or for religious holidays in some communities.

Teacher-only days

Teacher-only days are a chance for teachers to get together for planning and administration. Each school sets its own teacher-only days. These days are not included in the number of days the school must be open for the year.

Schools should give parents at least a term's notice of any planned teacher-only days.

We may also set additional teacher-only days for teachers to stay up to date with changes that affect the teaching profession. These days are for things like changes in curriculum and assessment. They do count toward the number of days a school must be open and do not need to be made up.

Allocated teacher-only days

If you're not happy with your school's term dates

We encourage schools to align term dates with other local schools where possible. If your family is impacted by variation in term dates between local schools, you can talk to your principal.

Early childhood services and private schools

Some early childhood services follow the school terms and holidays. Full-time daycare services are usually open through the school holidays but close over Christmas. Check with your service.

Private schools can have different terms and holidays. They can also open on Easter Tuesday. Check with the school.