Everyday NZ guide · New Zealand
Matariki Date NZ: Public Holiday Calendar
Find the Matariki public holiday date for 2027 and future years through 2052, and understand why the official date changes each year in New Zealand today.
Key points
The next Matariki public holiday
The next Matariki public holiday is Friday 25 June 2027.
Matariki is Friday 14 July in 2028 and Friday 6 July in 2029.
The public-holiday dates through 2052 are fixed in legislation, so they are not predictions.
The public-holiday Friday is related to, but not identical with, every local Matariki celebration or observation period.
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When is Matariki in 2027 and 2028?
The nationwide Matariki public holiday is Friday 25 June 2027. The following public holiday is Friday 14 July 2028. The complete statutory schedule covers every year from 2022 through 2052.
Every official date comes from the schedule to Te Ture mō te Hararei Tūmatanui o te Kāhui o Matariki 2022. A fixed yearly rule such as “the last Friday in June” will produce wrong answers.
Why the Matariki date changes
Te Papa explains that the holiday is connected with the winter rising of the Matariki star cluster during the Tangaroa period of the lunar month of Pipiri. The holiday falls on the closest Friday to that period.
The maramataka is an environmental calendar that considers the moon, stars, sun and other seasonal signs. That is why the Gregorian date moves between June and July instead of repeating on one numbered day.
Related: waitangi day Related: maximise annual leave Related: public holidays during annual leave
The public holiday is one date, Matariki is broader
The date listed in the statutory schedule is the nationwide public holiday. The Tangaroa lunar period can span several days, and iwi, hapū, whānau and communities may hold events or observe Matariki at different times.
Use “Matariki date” carefully: someone asking about a council event, a hautapu or the rising of the star cluster may need a different answer from someone arranging a day off work.
What Matariki means
Matariki is a time to remember those who have died, celebrate the present and look towards the future. Whānau connection, shared kai, gratitude and aspirations are common themes, while practices and knowledge can differ between iwi and regions.
A useful guide should not flatten those traditions into a generic mid-winter festival. Follow local Māori voices, hosts and tikanga when joining a community event, and use authoritative cultural sources when teaching or publishing about Matariki.
Plan work and leave around Matariki
Matariki is a nationwide public holiday and its scheduled dates are Fridays, creating a three-day weekend for many Monday-to-Friday workers. A person’s actual entitlement still depends on whether the Friday is otherwise a working day and on their employment circumstances.
Add the date to your calendar, then use the annual-leave planner if you want to compare working days before or after the weekend. Confirm leave approval before paying for travel.
Frequently asked questions
When is Matariki in 2027?
The Matariki public holiday is Friday 25 June 2027.
When is Matariki in 2028?
The Matariki public holiday is Friday 14 July 2028.
Why does the Matariki public holiday date change?
It is connected with the Matariki rising and the Tangaroa lunar period in Pipiri, then set on the closest Friday. The corresponding Gregorian date therefore changes.
Are future Matariki dates confirmed?
Yes. New Zealand legislation schedules the public-holiday dates from 2022 through 2052.
Is the Matariki public holiday always on Friday?
Every date in the current statutory schedule from 2022 through 2052 is a Friday.
Is the public-holiday date the only day to celebrate Matariki?
No. The statutory holiday is one date, while cultural observations and community events can occur across a wider period and vary locally.
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