The next Auckland Anniversary Day is Monday 1 February 2027. It is a public holiday for everyone who works in the former Auckland Province, which stretches well beyond the city, from Northland down to Waikato, the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne. In 2026 it was observed on Monday 26 January 2026.
Auckland Anniversary dates
| Year | Date observed |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday 26 January 2026 |
| 2027 | Monday 1 February 2027 |
| 2028 | Monday 31 January 2028 |
| 2029 | Monday 29 January 2029 |
| 2030 | Monday 28 January 2030 |
| 2031 | Monday 27 January 2031 |
The anniversary itself is 29 January, marking the arrival of Lieutenant Governor William Hobson in the Bay of Islands in 1840. The holiday is observed on the Monday nearest 29 January, which is why it always creates a three day weekend and never needs Mondayising.
Who gets the day off
Entitlement follows your workplace, not your home. Work in Auckland, Northland, Waikato, the Bay of Plenty, Taupō or Gisborne and this is your anniversary day, because all of these areas sat inside the former Auckland Province. Live in Auckland but work remotely for a Wellington employer and your anniversary day is Wellington’s instead.
The regatta
Auckland Anniversary Day is also the day of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta on the Waitematā Harbour, a tradition dating back to 1840 and one of the oldest sporting events in the country.
Pay and trading
Auckland Anniversary Day is an ordinary trading day, so shops open as usual. If you work it and it was a day you would otherwise have worked, you are owed time and a half plus a day in lieu. The public holidays hub covers the pay rules in full, and the anniversary days guide lists every province’s date.
Dates on this page are generated from a single verified dataset, checked against employment.govt.nz and Schedule 1 of the Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022. Last verified 15 August 2026.