MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR ANNUAL LEAVE IN 2026

How to maximise days off in 2026? 

You’ve likely seen this ‘hack’ on TikTok; it’s gone viral for its brilliance.  

But if not, and you’re wondering what ‘maximising your annual leave’ is, essentially, because public holidays don’t eat into your annual leave balance, if you’re strategic with which days you take off, you can get more days off for less leave.  

For example, if a public holiday falls on a Monday and you take the Tuesday to Friday off, you’ve just turned four days of annual leave into a nine-day break from work. Score! 

What days to take off to maximise annual leave in 2026? 

Here’s a complete breakdown of the best way to maximise your annual leave in 2026. 

Note: Regional anniversary days vary by area, so check which ones apply to you.

Wellington Anniversary (Wellington Region)

Wellington Anniversary falls on Monday, January 19 in 2026. 

Take Tuesday, January 20 to Friday, January 23 off (four days of annual leave) for a nine-day break from Saturday, January 17 through to Sunday, January 25.

Auckland/Northland Anniversary (Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and surrounding regions)

Auckland and Northland Anniversary both fall on Monday, January 26 in 2026. 

If you take four days of annual leave from Tuesday, January 27 to Friday, January 30, you’ll score a nine-day break from Saturday, January 24 through to Sunday, February 1.

Waitangi Day (Nationwide)

Waitangi Day falls on Friday, February 6 in 2026. Take Monday, February 2 to Thursday, February 5 off (four days of annual leave) for a nine-day break from Saturday, January 31 through to Sunday, February 8.

Nelson Anniversary (Nelson Region)

Nelson Anniversary falls on Monday, February 2 in 2026. 

And because of the aforementioned Waitangi Day (falling on Friday, February 6), you can take just three days of annual leave (Tuesday, February 3 to Thursday, February 5) for a nine-day break (from Saturday, January 31 through to Sunday, February 8)!

Taranaki Anniversary (Taranaki Region)

Taranaki Anniversary falls on Monday, March 9 in 2026. 

Take Tuesday, March 10 to Friday, March 13 off (four days of annual leave) for a nine-day break from Saturday, March 7 through to Sunday, March 15.

Otago Anniversary (Otago Region)

Otago Anniversary falls on Monday, March 23 in 2026. 

For a nine-day break, from Saturday, March 21 through to Sunday, March 29, take Tuesday, March 24 to Friday, March 27 off (four days of annual leave). 

Easter (Nationwide)

Easter is the undisputed GOAT when it comes to maximising annual leave.

In 2026, Good Friday falls on Friday, April 3 and Easter Monday falls on Monday, April 6.

Take just four days of annual leave from Tuesday, April 7 to Friday, April 10 and get 10 days off (Friday, April 3 to Sunday, April 12). 

ANZAC Day (Nationwide)

ANZAC Day falls on Saturday, April 25 in 2026, so the observed public holiday moves to Monday, April 27.

Take Tuesday April 28 to Friday May 1 off (4 days of annual leave) for a nine-day break from Saturday, April 25 through to Sunday, May 3.

King's Birthday (Nationwide)

The King's Birthday falls on Monday June 1 in 2026.

So, if you take four days of annual leave from Tuesday, June 2 to Friday, June 5, you’ll get a nine-day break from Saturday, May 30 through to Sunday, June 7.

Matariki (Nationwide)

Matariki falls on Friday, July 10 in 2026. 

You’ll get a nine-day break from Saturday, July 4 through to Sunday, July 12 if you take Monday, July 6 to Thursday, July 9 off. 

South Canterbury Anniversary (South Canterbury Region)

South Canterbury Anniversary falls on Monday, September 28 in 2026. 

Take Tuesday, September 29 to Friday, October 2 off (four days of annual leave) for a nine-day break from Saturday, September 26 through to Sunday, October 4.

Hawke's Bay Anniversary (Hawke's Bay Region)

Hawke's Bay Anniversary falls on Friday, October 23 in 2026 – meaning you’ve got two awesome ways to maximise your annual leave. 

You can either take four days of annual leave (from Monday, October 19 to Thursday, October 22) for a nine-day break (from Saturday, October 17 through to Sunday, October 25).

OR thanks to the nationwide Labour Day public holiday, you can take eight days of annual leave (from Monday, October 19 to Thursday, October 22, and from Tuesday, October 27 to Friday, October 30 off) for 16 days off (from Saturday, October 17 to Sunday, November 1)!!!

Labour Day (Nationwide)

Labour Day falls on Monday, October 26 in 2026.

Take Tuesday, October 27 to Friday, October 30 off (four days of annual leave) for a nine-day break from Saturday, October 24 through to Sunday, November 1.

Marlborough Anniversary (Marlborough Region)

Marlborough Anniversary falls on Monday, November 2 in 2026. 

For a nine-day break from Saturday, October 31 through to Sunday, November 8, take Tuesday, November 3 to Friday, November 6 off (four days of annual leave).

Canterbury Anniversary (Canterbury Region)

Canterbury Anniversary falls on Friday, November 13 in 2026. 

Take Monday, November 9 to Thursday, November 12 off (four days of annual leave) for a nine-day break from Saturday, November 7 through to Sunday, November 15.

Westland/Chatham Islands Anniversary (Westland and Chatham Islands)

Both the Westland Anniversary and the Chatham Islands Anniversary fall on Monday, November 30 in 2026. 

Take four days of annual leave, from Tuesday, December 1 to Friday, December 4, for a nine-day break, from Saturday, November 28 through to Sunday, December 6.

Christmas and New Year (Nationwide)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25 this year, and Boxing Day falls on Saturday, December 26 – meaning the observed public holiday moves to Monday, December 28.

Pair that with New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1, 2027, you can get two weeks off for just seven days of annual leave.  

How? Take Monday, December 21 to Thursday, December 24 off (four days of annual leave) and Tuesday, December 29 to Thursday, December 31 (three days of annual leave) and you’ll be away from work from Saturday, December 19, 2026, to Sunday January 3, 2027.  

Why take annual leave?

Numerous studies have shown that stepping away from work is *really* good for both your mental and physical health; whether it's a weekend at home or a two-week trip overseas. But if you are jetting off somewhere, make sure you've got travel insurance sorted before you go...

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