The countdown to the end of the year is well and truly on and many of us have turned our minds to those long summer days and a well-earned break. 

So how can you use the least amount of annual leave, for the longest stretch of time off? And when are the key dates to be aware of in 2025? 

Christmas and New Year 

Christmas Day and Boxing Day, as well as the New Year’s statutory holidays fall on a Wednesday and Thursday in 2024. 

Use those stat days, along with six days of annual leave, to take off December 23, 24 and 27, along with December 30 and 31 and January 3 to get a 16-day stretch of time off work. 

This Christmas you can get a 16-day stretch of time off work using only six days of annual leave. Photo / Hayden Woodward 

Easter weekend and Anzac Day 2025 

These fall in the same week next year so, by booking annual leave for April 14-17 and April 22-24, you’ll use seven days of annual leave, but get 16 days off work. 

Waitangi Day 2025 

Waitangi Day falls on a Thursday, so by using one annual leave day on Friday, February 7, you’ll get a four-day weekend. 

The 1000-strong Toitu te Tiriti hīkoi was one of the features of Waitangi Day celebrations earlier this year. Photo / Michael Cunningham 

When are the public and anniversary holidays in 2025? 

• New Year’s Day - January 1 
• Day after New Year’s Day - January 2 
• Wellington Anniversary - January 20 
• Auckland Anniversary - January 27 
• Nelson Anniversary - February 3 
• Waitangi Day - February 6 
• Taranaki Anniversary - March 10 
• Otago Anniversary - March 24 
• Good Friday - April 18 
• Easter Monday - April 21 
• Southland Anniversary - April 22 
• Anzac Day - April 25 
• King’s Birthday - June 2 
• Matariki - June 20 
• South Canterbury Anniversary - September 22 
• Hawke’s Bay Anniversary - October 24 
• Labour Day - October 27 
• Marlborough Anniversary - November 3 
• Canterbury Anniversary - November 14 
• Chatham Islands Anniversary and Westland Anniversary - December 1 
• Christmas Day - December 25 
• Boxing Day - December 26 

What about school terms in 2025? 

While exact start dates for individual schools differ, Term 1 starts between Monday, January 27 and Friday, February 7 (at the latest). 

Term 1 is 11 weeks long, with the last day being April 11. 

Term 2: Nine weeks. Begins April 28 and ends June 27, and includes two public holidays; King’s Birthday on Monday, June 2 and Matariki on Friday, June 20. 

Term 3: 10 weeks. Begins July 14 and ends September 19. There are no public holidays in Term 3. 

Term 4: Begins October 6 and ends December 19, and includes the Labour Day public holiday on October 27. 

When are the term one school holidays? 

The first lot of school holidays run from April 12 to April 27 and include Easter and Anzac Day. 

- RNZ