Public Holiday Pay & Day in Lieu Calculator NZ
Check your New Zealand public holiday entitlement, estimate time-and-a-half pay, and see whether you should also receive an alternative holiday (day in lieu).
Calculator
How NZ public holiday pay works
What is an otherwise working day?
An otherwise working day is a day you would have worked if it had not been a public holiday. This is important because it determines whether you are entitled to a paid day off or an alternative holiday.
What does time-and-a-half mean?
If you work on a public holiday you must generally receive at least 1.5 times the portion of your relevant daily pay that relates to the time actually worked. If your employment agreement provides a higher penal rate, the higher applicable amount can apply.
Do I get a day in lieu?
If you work on a public holiday that would otherwise have been a working day for you, you normally receive a full alternative holiday even if you only worked part of that public holiday. An exception applies where you are employed only to work on public holidays.
Christmas and New Year 2026–27
Christmas Day 2026 is Friday 25 December. Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December and may be observed on Monday 28 December for employees who would not otherwise work the Saturday. New Year's Day 2027 is Friday 1 January. The 2 January holiday falls on Saturday and may be observed on Monday 4 January for employees who would not otherwise work the Saturday.
Weekend public holidays and Mondayisation
When certain public holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday, the observed day can move to Monday or Tuesday for employees who would not otherwise work the weekend day. If the weekend day would normally be a working day for you, the public holiday generally remains on that actual day for you. You cannot receive two public-holiday entitlements for both the actual and transferred day.
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is not itself a public holiday under the Holidays Act. Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays. Separate Easter Sunday trading and employment rules may apply.
Relevant daily pay vs average daily pay
Relevant daily pay is generally what you would have earned if you had worked the day, including relevant regular payments. Average daily pay is based on average gross earnings per worked or paid day over the relevant period and can only be used in circumstances allowed by the Holidays Act.
Rules changing in 2028
The current Holidays Act rules still apply in 2026 and 2027. Employment New Zealand says the Employment Leave Act is expected to replace the Holidays Act from August 2028, so this calculator will need to be updated when those new rules take effect.
Guide only: This calculator is designed to explain common public-holiday situations. If your roster varies, you are on call, your holiday has been transferred, you receive complex allowances or penal rates, or there is disagreement about whether the day is an otherwise working day, check Employment New Zealand guidance or obtain payroll/employment advice.