Working Days and Hours 2026 - New Zealand
For New Zealand in 2026, this Monday-to-Friday planning calendar gives 250 days and 2,000 hours at 8 hours per day, after the included public holidays. It assumes those holidays are not worked and excludes personal leave and company closures.
Sandtime.io editorial team ·
Complete guide to working hours, public holidays, and annual leave in New Zealand for 2026
Monthly working days and hours 2026
For New Zealand in 2026, this Monday-to-Friday planning calendar gives 250 days and 2,000 hours at 8 hours per day, after the included public holidays. It assumes those holidays are not worked and excludes personal leave and company closures.
Monday-Friday; included holidays not worked; daily hours stated in the guide; no personal leave or company closures deducted.
New Zealand’s eleven national holidays are shown for a Monday-Friday employee, with the published observed dates. The regional anniversary day is not included, so both years are partial for workplace capacity. Mondayisation depends on whether the original date would otherwise be worked; never deduct both dates. Matariki falls on 10 July 2026 and 25 June 2027.
Official calendar or legal basis ·On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column. With a keyboard, focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Month | Planned working days | Working hours | Holidays reducing the total |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 20 | 160 | 2 |
| February 2026 | 19 | 152 | 1 |
| March 2026 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| April 2026 | 19 | 152 | 3 |
| May 2026 | 21 | 168 | 0 |
| June 2026 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| July 2026 | 22 | 176 | 1 |
| August 2026 | 21 | 168 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| October 2026 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| November 2026 | 21 | 168 | 0 |
| December 2026 | 21 | 168 | 2 |
| Total | 250 | 2,000 | 11 |
The accessible table contains the same figures.
Working hours in January 2026
In January 2026, the calendar gives 20 working days and 160 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in February 2026
In February 2026, the calendar gives 19 working days and 152 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in March 2026
In March 2026, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in April 2026
In April 2026, the calendar gives 19 working days and 152 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 3 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in May 2026
In May 2026, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in June 2026
In June 2026, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in July 2026
In July 2026, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in August 2026
In August 2026, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in September 2026
In September 2026, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in October 2026
In October 2026, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in November 2026
In November 2026, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in December 2026
In December 2026, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Plan hours for your working week
The calculator starts with work from Monday to Friday. Choose the days and daily hours that match your schedule. The result shows hours available after holidays; legal working-time limits depend on the rules for your workplace.
Planning weekdays: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday; 8 hours/day. Included holidays are assumed not worked; leave and company closures are not deducted.
160 hours
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column. With a keyboard, focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Month | Planned working days | Working hours | Holidays reducing the total |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 20 | 160 | 2 |
| Total | 20 | 160 | 2 |
New Zealand’s eleven national holidays are shown for a Monday-Friday employee, with the published observed dates. The regional anniversary day is not included, so both years are partial for workplace capacity. Mondayisation depends on whether the original date would otherwise be worked; never deduct both dates. Matariki falls on 10 July 2026 and 25 June 2027.
Official calendar or legal basis ·How to read the figures and verify the sources
New Zealand’s eleven national holidays are shown for a Monday-Friday employee, with the published observed dates. The regional anniversary day is not included, so both years are partial for workplace capacity. Mondayisation depends on whether the original date would otherwise be worked; never deduct both dates. Matariki falls on 10 July 2026 and 25 June 2027.
Official calendar or legal basis ·Count the selected working weekdays, subtract the included holidays that fall on those days, then multiply the remaining days by daily hours. Each holiday date is counted once. A holiday on a day you already exclude does not reduce the total again. Legal reductions and official substitute days follow their own rules.
Local working-calendar questions and examples
Does the New Zealand calendar include regional anniversary days?
New Zealand’s eleven national holidays are shown for a Monday-Friday employee, with the published observed dates. The regional anniversary day is not included, so both years are partial for workplace capacity. Mondayisation depends on whether the original date would otherwise be worked; never deduct both dates. Matariki falls on 10 July 2026 and 25 June 2027.
Which weekly pattern should a New Zealand team use?
For New Zealand capacity planning, use the employee’s agreed working week. A week may consist of different numbers of days and hours; the official leave guidance gives examples based on the actual working pattern. The editable five-day, eight-hour scenario does not determine a legal weekly maximum, overtime or an approved annual schedule.
Do four weeks of New Zealand leave always mean twenty days?
Current Employment New Zealand guidance gives at least four weeks of annual holidays after twelve months of continuous employment. A week follows the actual work pattern: three scheduled days per week mean twelve days across four weeks, not twenty. Leave dates, pay and any transitional legislation must be checked against the current official guidance.
A planning total is not a universal legal annual requirement. Contracts, collective agreements, regions, sectors and actual working schedules can change the result. Record personal leave and company closures separately, and check the country’s working-time rules before using a calendar for payroll.
Working hours 2027: plan the next year
New Zealand’s eleven national holidays are shown for a Monday-Friday employee, with the published observed dates. The regional anniversary day is not included, so both years are partial for workplace capacity. Mondayisation depends on whether the original date would otherwise be worked; never deduct both dates. Matariki falls on 10 July 2026 and 25 June 2027.
Official calendar or legal basis ·For New Zealand in 2027, this Monday-to-Friday planning calendar gives 250 days and 2,000 hours at 8 hours per day, after the included public holidays. It assumes those holidays are not worked and excludes personal leave and company closures.
With the same working days and daily hours, the 2027 preview differs from 2026 by 0 hours. The calendars may cover different holidays; check their scope before using the comparison for a budget.
Confirmed holiday dates in the 2027 preview
- - New Year’s Day
- - Day after New Year’s Day (observed)
- - Waitangi Day (observed)
- - Good Friday
- - Easter Monday
- - ANZAC Day (observed)
- - King’s Birthday
- - Matariki
- - Labour Day
- - Christmas Day (observed)
- - Boxing Day (observed)
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column. With a keyboard, focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Month | Planned working days | Working hours | Holidays reducing the total |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2027 | 19 | 152 | 2 |
| February 2027 | 19 | 152 | 1 |
| March 2027 | 21 | 168 | 2 |
| April 2027 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| May 2027 | 21 | 168 | 0 |
| June 2027 | 20 | 160 | 2 |
| July 2027 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| August 2027 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| September 2027 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| October 2027 | 20 | 160 | 1 |
| November 2027 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| December 2027 | 21 | 168 | 2 |
| Total | 250 | 2,000 | 11 |
The accessible table contains the same figures.
Working hours in January 2027
In January 2027, the calendar gives 19 working days and 152 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in February 2027
In February 2027, the calendar gives 19 working days and 152 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in March 2027
In March 2027, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in April 2027
In April 2027, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in May 2027
In May 2027, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in June 2027
In June 2027, the calendar gives 20 working days and 160 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in July 2027
In July 2027, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in August 2027
In August 2027, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in September 2027
In September 2027, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in October 2027
In October 2027, the calendar gives 20 working days and 160 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in November 2027
In November 2027, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in December 2027
In December 2027, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Which months have the most and least working hours in 2026?
For New Zealand, the highest monthly total in this 2026 scenario is 176 hours (March, July, September). The lowest is 152 hours (February, April). The difference is 24 hours per full-time person before leave, absences and company closures.
Compare delivery commitments by available hours, not by the number of months. Two equally priced monthly retainers can require different staffing when one month has fewer working days. Keep the calendar assumptions fixed, then adjust for each person’s schedule and approved leave before promising project capacity.
From October’s hours to a realistic project budget
Illustrative example for October 2026: start with 168 hours, reserve 16 hours for two scheduled days of approved leave and 24 hours for internal work. That leaves 128 hours for project allocation. It is a planning budget, not a promise that every remaining hour is billable or a record of hours actually worked.
Before the month begins, assign capacity to projects. During the month, keep actual project hours separately. At close, compare planned capacity with recorded work and approved absences; explain the differences before preparing client reports. A national calendar cannot replace either the employee’s schedule or the project record.
Understand billable utilization · Plan project staffing with the free capacity template · Use approved timesheets for client billing
2026 versus 2027: compare the hours month by month
An unchanged annual total can hide a different monthly workload. Compare matching months before reusing a staffing or delivery budget for 2027. This table uses the same daily hours and weekday assumptions in both years; regional and employer-specific calendars still need their own adjustments.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column. With a keyboard, focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change in hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 160 | 152 | -8 |
| February | 152 | 152 | 0 |
| March | 176 | 168 | -8 |
| April | 152 | 168 | 16 |
| May | 168 | 168 | 0 |
| June | 168 | 160 | -8 |
| July | 176 | 176 | 0 |
| August | 168 | 176 | 8 |
| September | 176 | 176 | 0 |
| October | 168 | 160 | -8 |
| November | 168 | 176 | 8 |
| December | 168 | 168 | 0 |
| Total | 2,000 | 2,000 | 0 |
Official calendar or legal basis
See the assumptions and confirmed dates for 2027 · Calculate a different period or working week
Free templates for planning and recording hours
Download editable spreadsheets or printable PDFs without registration. Keep calendar capacity, leave and actual time records separate.
Monthly timesheet
Record actual hours separately from the calendar’s planned total.
Download Excel · Download PDF
Work schedule
Turn monthly capacity into a team schedule and record company days off.
Download Excel · Download PDF
Vacation and leave tracker
Account for personal leave before assigning work to a project.
Download Excel · Download PDF
Time off in lieu tracker
Keep a record of granted compensating leave and its remaining balance.
Download Excel · Download PDFFrom the calendar to reliable time records
A calendar tells you how many hours can be planned. A time record tells you which project used them. Review the actual hours before reporting or billing.
- Working-time rules, rest and record keeping
- Count working days between two dates
- What belongs in working-time records?
- How to log time in a timesheet
- From approved timesheets to client billing
Sandtime.io is free for unlimited users. Track project hours and export reports when it is time to review or invoice.
Start free with Sandtime.ioWorking Hours and Leave in New Zealand 2026
Working week used in calculations
Monday to Friday. Edit working weekdays in the calculator; legal limits and actual schedules are separate.
- 8 hours per day
- 5 days per week
- 40 hours per week
For New Zealand capacity planning, use the employee’s agreed working week. A week may consist of different numbers of days and hours; the official leave guidance gives examples based on the actual working pattern. The editable five-day, eight-hour scenario does not determine a legal weekly maximum, overtime or an approved annual schedule.
Annual Leave Entitlement
4 weeks
Current Employment New Zealand guidance gives at least four weeks of annual holidays after twelve months of continuous employment. A week follows the actual work pattern: three scheduled days per week mean twelve days across four weeks, not twenty. Leave dates, pay and any transitional legislation must be checked against the current official guidance.
Official annual leave rulesMonthly Averages
- 20.8 working days/month
- 166.7 working hours/month
Public Holidays in New Zealand 2026
The stated calendar for New Zealand lists 11 holidays in 2026, with 11 falling on weekdays. See full public holidays list
New Zealand’s eleven national holidays are shown for a Monday-Friday employee, with the published observed dates. The regional anniversary day is not included, so both years are partial for workplace capacity. Mondayisation depends on whether the original date would otherwise be worked; never deduct both dates. Matariki falls on 10 July 2026 and 25 June 2027.
Understanding Holiday Types
Different countries use different terminology for non-working days. Here is what each term means for workforce planning.
Public Holidays
Official days off recognized by a country’s government. Most employees are entitled to paid leave, and businesses may close or operate with reduced staff.
Federal Holidays
Holidays established by a national government, primarily affecting government offices and federally-regulated employers. Private companies may choose whether to observe them.
Bank Holidays
Days when banks and financial institutions are closed. In the UK, this term is synonymous with public holidays. Important for payroll processing and payment schedules.
Observances
Notable dates that are not official days off. Examples include Earth Day or Mother’s Day. These do not affect work schedules unless an employer chooses to recognize them.
| Date | Day | Holiday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Jan 1 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | |
| Fri, Jan 2 | Friday | Day after New Year’s Day | |
| Fri, Feb 6 | Friday | Waitangi Day | |
| Fri, Apr 3 | Friday | Good Friday | |
| Mon, Apr 6 | Monday | Easter Monday | |
| Mon, Apr 27 | Monday | ANZAC Day (observed) | |
| Mon, Jun 1 | Monday | King’s Birthday | |
| Fri, Jul 10 | Friday | Matariki | |
| Mon, Oct 26 | Monday | Labour Day | |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | |
| Mon, Dec 28 | Monday | Boxing Day (observed) |
Turn working days into tracked hours
Sandtime.io is free for unlimited users. Log hours against projects, approve timesheets, and export reports for invoicing.