Labour Day 2026 NZ: Date, Holiday Pay and What's Open
Labour Day in New Zealand is Monday, October 26, 2026. It's a national public holiday, always on the fourth Monday in October, so Labour Weekend runs from Saturday, October 24 to Monday, October 26. In Hawke's Bay, the anniversary day is observed on the Friday before, October 23, which makes it a four-day weekend there. If you work on Labour Day, you must be paid at least time and a half, and if it's a day you'd normally work, you also get a paid day off later. Shops are allowed to open as usual, because Labour Day isn't a restricted trading day.
Labour Day 2026 at a glance
- Date: Monday, October 26, 2026
- Labour Weekend: Saturday, October 24 to Monday, October 26
- Hawke's Bay: Anniversary Day on Friday, October 23, so a four-day weekend from October 23 to 26
- Schools: closed on the Monday. Term 4 started on October 12, and Labour Day is its only public holiday (Ministry of Education)
- Next year: Labour Day 2027 is Monday, October 25, 2027
Dates from Employment New Zealand's list of 2026 public holidays and anniversary dates.
If you work on Labour Day: holiday pay
| Your situation | What you're entitled to |
|---|---|
| You work, and Monday is a normal working day for you | At least time and a half for the hours you work, plus a paid alternative holiday (a day in lieu) to take later |
| You work, but Monday isn't normally a working day for you | At least time and a half for the hours you work, but no alternative holiday |
| You don't work, and Monday is a normal working day for you | A paid day off at your normal daily pay |
| You don't work, and Monday isn't normally a working day for you | Nothing extra |
The alternative holiday is a full day off, even if you only worked a couple of hours on the public holiday. You and your employer agree when to take it; if you can't agree, your employer can choose the day but must give you at least 14 days' notice. Source: Employment New Zealand on public holiday rights and alternative holidays. These rules come from the Holidays Act, which applies until the new Employment Leave Act replaces it in August 2028.
What's open on Labour Day?
- Shops, supermarkets and malls can open. The law only makes almost all shops close on three and a half days a year, and Labour Day isn't one of them (Employment New Zealand). Hours are up to each store, so check your local store's page.
- Schools are closed for the day.
- Many council offices close for the public holiday, and rubbish collection days and opening hours of pools and libraries can change. Check your council's website.
- Buses and trains often run a weekend or public holiday timetable. Check your regional transport operator before you travel.
More public holidays after Labour Day
| Holiday | Where | 2026 date |
|---|---|---|
| Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day | Hawke's Bay | Friday, October 23 |
| Marlborough Anniversary Day | Marlborough | Monday, November 2 |
| Canterbury Anniversary Day | Canterbury | Friday, November 13 |
| Westland Anniversary Day | Westland | Monday, November 30 |
| Christmas Day | Everywhere | Friday, December 25 |
| Boxing Day | Everywhere | Saturday, December 26, or Monday, December 28 if you don't normally work Saturdays |
Anniversary dates are observed dates from Employment New Zealand, which advises checking with your local council for the most reliable date.
Why New Zealand has Labour Day
Labour Day marks the fight for an eight-hour working day. In 1840, in the new settlement of Wellington, the carpenter Samuel Duncan Parnell refused to work more than eight hours a day. He reportedly told an employer: "There are twenty-four hours per day given us; eight of these should be for work, eight for sleep, and the remaining eight for recreation …"
The first Labour Day was celebrated on October 28, 1890, with parades of several thousand union members and supporters in the main cities. The Labour Day Act of 1899 made it a public holiday from 1900, on the second Wednesday in October. In 1910 it moved to the fourth Monday in October, where it has stayed. Source: Wikipedia.
Quick answers
When is Labour Day 2026 in New Zealand?
Monday, October 26, 2026. It's always the fourth Monday in October.
Is Labour Day a public holiday in NZ?
Yes. It's one of New Zealand's national public holidays, observed everywhere in the country.
Do I get time and a half on Labour Day?
Yes, if you work. You must be paid at least time and a half for the hours you work. If Monday is a normal working day for you, you also get a paid day off to take later.
Are shops open on Labour Day?
They're allowed to be. Labour Day isn't a restricted trading day, so supermarkets and malls can open, but each store sets its own hours.
Is there school on Labour Day?
No. Schools are closed on Monday, October 26, and Term 4 carries on from Tuesday, October 27.
When is Labour Day 2027?
Monday, October 25, 2027.
