The laws around public holidays enititlements can be confusing. Here are the main points.
- You get a paid day off on public holidays if it’s an otherwise working day for you. If you work on a public holiday you’re paid time and a half, and may get an alternative day off.
- You can get a maximum of 11 public holidays a year
- You can’t be entitled to more than four public holidays over the Christmas and New Year period, regardless of your work pattern
- You can only claim one anniversary day per year.
- You can only be made to work on a public holiday if:
- it falls on a day on which you would have otherwise worked, and
- your employment agreement says you have to work on the public holiday.
- If you would normally have worked on the Saturday/Sunday, the public holiday is observed on the Saturday/Sunday
- If you would not normally have worked on the Saturday/Sunday, the public holiday is observed on the following Monday/Tuesday
Key Public Holiday dates in 2020 (observed)
New Year’s Day – Wednesday 1st January
Day after New Year’s Day – Thursday 2nd January
Waitangi Day - Thursday 6th February
Good Friday - Friday 10th April
Easter Monday - Monday 13th April
Anzac Day - Monday 27 April (actual 25th April)
Queen’s Birthday - Monday 1st June
Labour Day - Monday 26th October
Christmas Day – Friday 25th December
Boxing Day – Monday 28th December (actual Saturday 26th December)
