King's Birthday and Labour Day in NZ: What You Need to Know

Two of New Zealand's 11 national public holidays don't fall on a fixed calendar date but always land on a specific Monday: King's Birthday (first Monday in June) and Labour Day (fourth Monday in October). Both are national holidays observed across the country, and both create a standard three-day long weekend every year — no observed date calculation required.

They also have genuinely interesting histories that most people don't know.

King's Birthday: The History

King's Birthday is one of the more curious entries in the New Zealand public holiday calendar. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with the King's actual birthday. King Charles III was born on 14 November 1948. New Zealand's King's Birthday public holiday is in June.

The tradition dates back to the reign of King Edward VII, who was born on 9 November but preferred to have his official birthday celebrated in June because British summer weather was more suitable for outdoor parades and celebrations. The practice of celebrating the monarch's official birthday in June — separate from the actual birthday — was adopted across the British Empire and carried into the Commonwealth.

New Zealand has maintained the June timing ever since, through the reigns of George V, George VI, Elizabeth II and now Charles III. The holiday was called "Queen's Birthday" for 70 years during Elizabeth II's reign, then renamed "King's Birthday" in September 2022 following the accession of King Charles III to the throne.

Australia also observes King's Birthday in June, but on different dates in different states — which can create confusion for trans-Tasman businesses. In New Zealand, it's always the first Monday of June.

King's Birthday Dates 2025–2028

King's Birthday weekend in early June sits just a few weeks before Matariki (always a Friday in late June or July), giving New Zealand two long weekends in relatively quick succession in the first half of winter. For ski resort operators, travel companies and accommodation businesses in the South Island, the King's Birthday and Matariki long weekends are some of the busiest of the winter season.

Labour Day: The History

Labour Day has a far more specific historical origin than King's Birthday. It commemorates a milestone in working conditions that New Zealand led the world on.

On 28 October 1890, workers in New Zealand held mass meetings and marches to celebrate the principle of the eight-hour working day — eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, eight hours of recreation. New Zealand had been one of the first places in the world where the eight-hour day was formally recognised, with Wellington carpenters winning the right in 1840 (just months after the Treaty of Waitangi was signed).

The marches of 1890 were not just local celebrations — they were part of an international workers' movement, connected to similar events in Australia and around the world. New Zealand's labour movement has consistently been among the most progressive in the world: the country introduced universal suffrage in 1893, the first country in the world to do so.

Labour Day was formally established as a national public holiday in 1900 and has been observed ever since. The fourth Monday in October timing has been consistent for most of its history, giving workers in late October a long weekend as daylight saving begins.

Labour Day Dates 2025–2028

Labour Day marks the start of spring and the beginning of daylight saving time in New Zealand. Daylight saving starts on the last Sunday of September, so by Labour Day weekend there's already over an hour of extra evening light. The long weekend is popular for outdoor activities, camping and the start of the beach season in warmer regions.

What About Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day?

Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day always falls on the Friday before Labour Day — so in Labour Day weekend years, Hawke's Bay workers get a four-day long weekend (Friday to Monday) from Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day through Labour Day. It's one of the most generous regional holiday arrangements in New Zealand and makes Labour Day weekend particularly valuable for people based in Hawke's Bay.

Working on King's Birthday or Labour Day

As national public holidays, King's Birthday and Labour Day carry the same entitlements as any other public holiday. If Monday is an otherwise working day for you:

• If you don't work: You receive your relevant daily pay as if you had worked.
• If you do work: You receive at least time-and-a-half for hours worked, plus an alternative holiday.

Because both of these holidays always fall on a Monday, the "otherwise working day" question is simple for most employees: if you work Monday to Friday, these days are always public holidays for you. The complexity only arises for shift workers, casual workers or those with irregular schedules.

New Zealand vs Australia: Different King's Birthday Dates

King's Birthday is observed across Australia and New Zealand, but on different dates. In New Zealand it's always the first Monday in June. In Australia, the date varies by state: Victoria and Tasmania celebrate on the second Monday in June, while most other states have their own dates in June or September. Queensland observes it in October. Western Australia is in September.

For businesses operating across the Tasman — or with employees who travel between NZ and Australian offices — this can create genuine complexity. In June, a week might have New Zealand staff on a public holiday while Australian counterparts (in most states) are still working. Building this into shared calendars and project timelines at the start of the year saves headaches later.

This article is for general information purposes. Public holiday entitlements depend on your employment agreement and individual circumstances. Dates are confirmed by Employment New Zealand. For definitive employment advice, contact Employment New Zealand or a registered employment lawyer.