ANZAC Day is one of the most widely observed days in New Zealand. Across the country, people rise before dawn to attend commemoration services, stand in silence, lay wreaths, and reflect on the soldiers who served and died in wars and conflicts over more than a century. It is a solemn, national tradition that cuts across generations and communities.
But alongside its commemoration, ANZAC Day also has some unusual characteristics as a public holiday — including one rule that's different from every other national holiday in New Zealand.
The Origins of ANZAC Day
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The date — 25 April — marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 1915, when combined Australian and New Zealand forces landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey) as part of a campaign to open a supply route to Russia and take Constantinople.
The Gallipoli campaign lasted eight months and ultimately failed militarily. But the conduct of Australian and New Zealand soldiers at Gallipoli became central to how both nations understood themselves. Facing enormously difficult conditions — steep terrain, inadequate supply lines and a heavily fortified Ottoman defence — the ANZAC forces showed courage, resourcefulness and a particular spirit that the people back home came to identify as distinctively theirs.
New Zealand suffered some of the highest per-capita casualties of the war — around 18,000 deaths out of a population of just over one million. By the end of the First World War, approximately 10% of New Zealand's population had served, and the losses touched almost every community in the country.
How ANZAC Day Became a Public Holiday
The first ANZAC Day commemorations were held on 25 April 1916 — one year after the Gallipoli landing. In New Zealand, ANZAC Day was observed as a public holiday under the ANZAC Day Act 1920. The date has been a national public holiday ever since.
Over the decades, the character of ANZAC Day has evolved. In the mid-20th century, the day focused primarily on Gallipoli and World War One. Over time it expanded to acknowledge New Zealand service in World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and subsequent peacekeeping operations. The Auckland War Memorial Museum, the National War Memorial in Wellington, and hundreds of local cenotaphs and memorials around the country are central to the day's commemorations.
The Rule That Makes ANZAC Day Different
ANZAC Day has one public holiday rule that applies to no other national holiday in New Zealand: if 25 April falls on a Sunday, the public holiday remains on the Sunday — there is no Monday substitute.
For every other national public holiday, when the holiday falls on a weekend, it is observed on the following Monday (or Tuesday in some Christmas cases). ANZAC Day is the sole exception. The reason is that the date of 25 April itself is considered significant — it's not just any day off, but a specific date of remembrance. Shifting it to a Monday would disconnect the commemoration from the historical anniversary.
In practice, this means that in years when 25 April falls on a weekend, employees who don't normally work weekends won't receive an alternative holiday (since the "otherwise working day" test would not be met). However, employees who work weekends and would have worked on 25 April are entitled to the full public holiday treatment.
ANZAC Day Commemorations Across New Zealand
The dawn service is the centrepiece of ANZAC Day. Services are held at cenotaphs, war memorials and other sites across the country, typically beginning around 6 am. The National War Memorial in Wellington hosts one of the most attended dawn services, as does the Auckland War Memorial Museum at the Auckland Domain.
Beyond the formal services, ANZAC Day is observed through:
- RSA gatherings: The Returned Services' Association (RSA) hosts events at branches across New Zealand, where veterans and their families come together.
- Marches: Veterans, serving military personnel and sometimes schoolchildren march through town centres following the dawn service.
- Two Up: The traditional Australian gambling game associated with ANZAC Day has some presence in New Zealand too, though it's more strongly associated with Australia.
- Commemorations at Gallipoli: New Zealanders often travel to Turkey to attend the ANZAC Day service at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula, which draws thousands of visitors from both New Zealand and Australia each year.
Retail Trading and ANZAC Day
ANZAC Day has traditionally had restrictions on retail trading, though these have changed over the years. Under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990, there were blanket restrictions on shops opening on ANZAC Day morning. These have since been relaxed — the current rules allow shops to trade at any time on ANZAC Day, but local authorities can adopt bylaws that restrict trading before 1 pm if they choose.
As a result, trading rules on ANZAC Day morning vary by region. Some areas maintain traditional restrictions; others have full trading from the moment shops choose to open. If you're planning to shop or visit a business on ANZAC Day morning, it's worth checking local arrangements rather than assuming.
Check when ANZAC Day falls each year from 2025 to 2028, including whether a substitute applies.
View ANZAC Day Dates on NZHolidayRemembrance Beyond Gallipoli
ANZAC Day in New Zealand has grown to encompass remembrance of all New Zealanders who have served in armed conflict, peacekeeping and support roles. New Zealand service personnel have served in conflicts as varied as the South African War, both World Wars, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and Iraq.
The New Zealand Defence Force continues to maintain overseas commitments, and ANZAC Day is an opportunity to acknowledge those currently serving alongside those who served in the past. Some communities now include representatives from New Zealand's diverse communities — including Māori military traditions such as the 28th Māori Battalion — in ANZAC Day commemorations.
ANZAC Day Dates in Recent and Coming Years
ANZAC Day always falls on 25 April. Recent and upcoming dates:
- 2025: Friday 25 April (no substitute needed — falls on a weekday)
- 2026: Saturday 25 April — observed on Saturday, with Monday 27 April as substitute
- 2027: Sunday 25 April — observed on the Sunday itself; no Monday substitute under the ANZAC Day rule
- 2028: Tuesday 25 April — standard weekday, no substitute needed
Note that 2026 is a slightly unusual case: ANZAC Day falls on Saturday 25 April with Monday 27 April as a substitute for those who would normally work Monday. Check the main NZHoliday page for confirmed observed dates for your region each year.
Historical information in this article is provided for general educational purposes. For official commemorations and event information, visit the New Zealand Defence Force or RSA New Zealand websites. Public holiday entitlements depend on your employment agreement and individual circumstances.