Term Dates

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 10 weeks)

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

Public holiday: Labour Day – Monday 26 October.

Half-day opening requirement 2026

Primary, intermediate and specialist schools must be open for instruction for a minimum of 378 half days in 2026.

Secondary and composite schools must be open for instruction for a minimum of 376 half days in 2026.

Schools have flexibility to choose the start and end dates of their school year, so long as they start between Monday 26 January and Monday 9 February, and end no later than 18 December 2026.