School terms and holiday dates
State and integrated schools and kura school terms and holiday dates.
| LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE |
MAIN AUDIENCE |
OTHER |
| Inform
|
- Boards
- Administrators
- Principals and Tumuaki
|
- Parents, Caregivers and Whānau
- General Public
|
These dates support school boards, administrators, principals and parents/caregivers to plan their calendars. Holidays and mandatory half-days are statutory requirements for state and integrated schools and kura.
2023 school terms and holidays
| TERM 1 |
| Number of weeks |
Between 10-11 |
| Term start and end dates |
Starts between Monday 31 January (at the earliest); and Tuesday 8 February (at the latest), and ends Thursday 14 April (96-106 half-days) |
| Public holidays |
Waitangi Day (observed) – Monday 7 February, and Easter: Good Friday – 15 April |
| School holidays |
Saturday 16 April to Sunday 1 May (includes Easter Monday – 18 April, Easter Tuesday – 19 April (a school holiday), and Anzac Day – Monday 25 April) |
| TERM 2 |
| Number of weeks |
10 |
| Term start and end dates |
Monday 2 May to Friday 8 July (96 half-days) |
| Public holidays |
King’s Birthday – Monday 6 June, Matariki – Friday 24 June |
| School holidays |
Saturday 9 July to Sunday 24 July |
| TERM 3 |
| Number of weeks |
10 |
| Term start and end dates |
Monday 25 July to Friday 30 September (100 half-days) |
| Public holidays |
None |
| School holidays |
Saturday 1 October to Sunday 16 October |
| TERM 4 |
| Number of weeks |
Up to 10 |
| Term start and end dates |
Starts Monday 17 October, and ends no later than Tuesday 20 December (92 half-days)* |
| Public holidays |
Labour Day – Monday 24 October, Christmas Day – Sunday 25 December, Boxing Day – Monday 26 December, and New Year’s Day – Sunday 1 January 2023 |
* For primary, intermediate and special schools: or to a day in December that ensures that the school has been open for instruction for a minimum of 384 half-days in 2022.
For secondary and composite schools: or to a day in December that ensures that the school has been open for instruction for 378 half-days in 2022.
2023 school terms and holidays
| TERM 1 |
| Number of weeks |
10 |
| Term start and end dates |
Starts between Monday 30 January (at the earliest); and Tuesday 7 February (at the latest), and ends Thursday 6 April (86-96 half-days) |
| Public holidays |
Waitangi Day Monday 6 February, and Easter: Good Friday, Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday |
| School holidays |
Friday 7 April to Sunday 23 April (includes Good Friday – 7 April, Easter Monday – 10 April and Easter Tuesday – 11 April (a school holiday)) |
| TERM 2 |
| Number of weeks |
10 |
| Term start and end dates |
Monday 24 April to Friday 30 June (96 half-days) |
| Public holidays |
Anzac Day – Tuesday 25 April and King’s Birthday – Monday 5 June |
| School holidays |
Saturday 1 July to Sunday 16 July (includes Matariki 14 July) |
| TERM 3 |
| Number of weeks |
10 |
| Term start and end dates |
Monday 17 July to Friday 22 September (100 half-days) |
| Public holidays |
None |
| School holidays |
Saturday 23 September to Sunday 8 October |
| TERM 4 |
| Number of weeks |
10 |
| Term start and end dates |
Starts Monday 9 October, and ends no later than Wednesday 20 December (up to 104 half-days)* |
| Public holidays |
Labour Day – Monday 23 October, Christmas Day – Monday 25 December, Boxing Day – Tuesday 26 December and New Year’s Day – Monday 1 January 2024 |
| School holidays |
5-6 weeks (from school’s closing day until the opening date the following year). |
* 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 386 half-days in 2023.
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 2023.
2024 school terms and holidays
| TERM 1 |
| Number of weeks |
10 |
| Term start and end dates |
Starts between Monday 29 January (at the earliest); and Wednesday 7 February (at the latest), and ends Friday 12 April (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) |
| School holidays |
Saturday 13 April -Sunday 28 April (includes ANZAC Day 25 April) |
| TERM 2 |
| Number of weeks |
10 |
| Term start and end dates |
Monday 29 April to Friday 5 July (96 half-days) |
| Public holidays |
King’s Birthday – Monday 3 June, Matariki – Friday 28 June |
| School holidays |
Saturday 6 July – Sunday 21 July |
| TERM 3 |
| Number of weeks |
10 |
| Term start and end dates |
Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September (100 half-days) |
| Public holidays |
None |
| School holidays |
Saturday 28 September to Sunday 13 October |
| TERM 4 |
| Number of weeks |
10 |
| Term start and end dates |
Starts Monday 14 October, and ends no later than Friday 20 December (up to 98 half-days)* |
| Public holidays |
Labour Day – Monday 28 October |
| School holidays |
5-6 weeks (from school’s closing day until the opening date the following year, including Christmas Day – Wednesday 25 December, Boxing Day – Thursday 26 December and New Year’s Day – Wednesday 1 January 2025). |
* 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.
Who uses the school terms and holiday dates?
| FOR: |
SCHOOL TERMS AND HOLIDAYS |
| State and state-integrated schools and kura |
The New Zealand school year is usually divided into four terms. There is usually a two-week break between each of the first three terms and a summer holiday at the end of Term 4 of about six weeks |
| Early learning services (including kindergartens and playcentres) |
Generally follow the same term and holiday dates as state schools |
| Full-time daycare centres |
Are usually open through the school holidays but close for a time over Christmas |
| Private schools |
Have greater legislative freedom than state and integrated schools and kura and are able to vary their opening hours and school yea |
