I noticed that my 2004 calendar has Jan 2 listed as a holiday in NZ, with the cryptic note "Day after Jan 1".

Since I'm fairly sure that Jan 2 is the day after Jan 1 everywhere in the world, can anyone tell me what is celebrated in New Zealand?

Thanks,
Maureen

I think Jan 2 is New Zealand's national holiday. I know for sure that Jan 26 is Australia's national day. (Like July 1 for Canada Day; and July 4 for the USA.)

I think Waitangi Day on February 6th is the NZ national day. My guess is Janurary 2nd just another extended holiday or bank holiday. January is summer in NZ so Day after New Years is probably a nice long summer holiday. I did notice that if Jan 2nd lands on a weekend day, the holiday is the following Monday.

Thanks to both of you!

I had googled 2 Jan and there did not seem to be anything special, so your guess is probably accurate, Marta. Waitangi Day does seem to be the national holiday.

Maureen

It means that if January 1 or 2 fall on a weekend, the holiday is moved forward. For 2005, New Year's Day is a Saturday, so it all moves forward. Here's the explanation from a website:


>>New Year's Day and the day after are moved to the Monday (and Tuesday) following if they occur on a weekend. If Saturday or Sunday is New Year's Day, then Monday and Tuesday are holidays. If Friday is New Year's Day, then Monday is given in lieu of the 2nd day holiday. The same rule applies to Christmas and Boxing Day>>

Thanks for the additional info, Sally!

Maureen

I just left New Zealand, although I wasn't there for January 2.

Waitangi Day is Feb. 6 and it is a national holiday similar to Canada Day (july 1) or the Fourth of July in the U.S.

If you go to New Zealand, you should check with local people about holidays there. While I was there, Wellington and area celebrated Wellington Day (and businesses were closed - it was a Monday in January), and Auckland celebrated Auckland Day (it was in January, but not the same day as Wellington Day, but also a Monday and a long weekend holiday for people). These seemed to be local holidays and weren't listed in any of the books I consulted.

Hi,

I am a New Zealander, and I just wanted to add that the reason the calendar notes Jan 2 as a special day is that it is a public holiday, one of the 12 or so statutory holidays that all workers are entitled to in addition to their statutory minumum of 3 weeks annual vacation per year. If January 2 falls on a weekend then the day off will be observed on the next normal working day. So January 2nd, nothing special but like a Bank Holiday in the UK.