beautiful hat with glasses and cream on the sea on sand background
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The countdown to the end of the year is well and truly underway and many of us are thinking about the long days of summer and a well-deserved break.

So how can you use the least amount of annual leave possible to get the longest leave? And what are the key dates to know in 2025?

Christmas and New Year

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

Use these holidays, along with six days of annual leave, to take December 23, 24 and 27 off, as well as December 30, 31 and January 3 to take 16 days off.

Easter weekend and Anzac Day 2025

These fall the same week next year. So, by booking annual leave from April 14-17 and 22-24, you will use seven days of annual leave, but benefit from 16 days off.

Waitangi Day 2025

Waitangi Day falls on a Thursday, so using a day of annual leave on Friday February 7 will give you a four-day weekend.

What are the public holidays and birthdays in 2025?

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

What about school terms in 2025?

Although exact course start dates differ between schools, the first term begins between Monday 27 January and Friday 7 February (at the latest).

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