Everyday NZ guide · New Zealand
Waitangi Day NZ: Date and Observed-Day Guide
Check the Waitangi Day date and observed Monday for any year, see how weekend work patterns change the answer and understand what 6 February marks in NZ.
Key points
Waitangi Day dates in brief
Waitangi Day is always 6 February; the calendar date itself does not change.
In 2027, 6 February is Saturday and the weekday-worker observance is Monday 8 February.
When 6 February falls on a weekend, the following Monday applies if that weekend day would not otherwise be a working day.
The same employee does not receive two public holidays for the actual date and the Monday.
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When is Waitangi Day in 2027?
Waitangi Day is Saturday 6 February 2027. For an employee who would not otherwise work that Saturday, the public holiday is treated as falling on Monday 8 February 2027.
Someone who would otherwise work on the Saturday generally observes the public holiday on the actual date instead. Keep the fixed calendar date separate from the common Monday-to-Friday employment answer.
Waitangi Day is always 6 February
The Waitangi Day Act names 6 February in every year as Waitangi Day, commemorating the first signing at Waitangi in 1840. Unlike Matariki or Easter, the actual calendar date is fixed.
What changes is the weekday. If 6 February lands on Monday to Friday, the actual and ordinary observed dates are the same. Weekend years require the Holidays Act transfer rule.
Related: matariki date Related: mondayisation nz public holidaysRelated: public holidays during annual leave
How Mondayisation works
When Waitangi Day falls on Saturday or Sunday and that day would not otherwise be a working day for the employee, section 45A of the Holidays Act treats the public holiday as falling on the following Monday.
It is not an extra second holiday. If the weekend is otherwise a working day, the actual date generally remains the employee’s public holiday. Variable rosters can require an individual otherwise-working-day assessment.
What Waitangi Day commemorates
Te Tiriti o Waitangi was first signed at Waitangi on 6 February 1840. More than 40 rangatira signed at Waitangi that day, and further signings took place around the country over the following months.
Waitangi Day is a national public holiday and also a day of reflection and debate about Te Tiriti, the relationship between Māori and the Crown, its promises and its continuing place in Aotearoa New Zealand. It should not be reduced to only a long-weekend date.
Plan the day without guessing
Use the actual 6 February date for commemorations and public information. For work or leave planning, check which observed day applies to the employee’s normal work pattern and employment agreement.
Opening hours, events and services can follow their own schedules. Confirm local arrangements directly, and wait for leave approval before booking non-refundable travel.
Frequently asked questions
What date is Waitangi Day?
Waitangi Day is 6 February every year.
When is Waitangi Day observed in 2027?
The actual date is Saturday 6 February 2027. For a standard Monday-to-Friday worker, it is observed on Monday 8 February.
Is Waitangi Day Mondayised?
It is transferred to the following Monday when 6 February falls on a weekend and that weekend day would not otherwise be a working day for the employee.
Do weekend workers also get Monday?
Not automatically. Someone who would otherwise work on the Saturday or Sunday generally observes the public holiday on the actual date and does not also receive Monday for the same holiday.
What does Waitangi Day commemorate?
It marks the first signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi at Waitangi on 6 February 1840 and its continuing significance in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Is Waitangi Day a public holiday throughout New Zealand?
Yes. Waitangi Day is a nationwide public holiday, although employee entitlement depends on otherwise-working-day and related employment rules.
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