Canterbury Anniversary Day: 2026 and 2027 dates

What is an anniversary day?

Provincial anniversary days are public holidays unique to New Zealand. Under section 44 of the Holidays Act 2003, each of the country's twelve historic provinces has its own designated day off, observed in addition to the eleven nationwide public holidays. Most workers in New Zealand therefore receive twelve paid public holidays per year.

Canterbury Anniversary Day traces its origins to the colonial-era provincial system that divided New Zealand before the provinces were abolished in 1876. The anniversary dates were kept and eventually codified in the Holidays Act. Each region follows its own rule for determining the exact date, which is why some anniversary days fall on a fixed Monday relative to a calendar date while others, like Southland, are tied to a movable feast.

If you work on Canterbury Anniversary Day, you are entitled to time-and-a-half pay for the hours you work, plus an alternative holiday (a paid day off to be taken later). This applies whether you are full-time, part-time, or casual. If you do not work on the day, you receive your normal pay. Workers near regional boundaries should check their employment agreement to confirm which anniversary day applies to them.