Hide clues around the house that can only be unlocked by solving a maths problem. Each answer points to the next hiding spot.
NZ School Holidays 2026
New Zealand term dates and school holidays for 2026 for state and state-integrated schools. Your school may open or close on slightly different days within the Ministry's permitted range.
NZ school terms & holidays 2026
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Between Mon 26 Jan 2026and Mon 9 Feb 2026 (each school chooses) | Thu 2 Apr 2026 | up to 10 weeks |
| Term 1 holidays (autumn)Between Term 1 and Term 2 | Fri 3 Apr 2026 | Sun 19 Apr 2026 | 17 days |
| Term 2 | Mon 20 Apr 2026 | Fri 3 July 2026 | 11 weeks |
| Term 2 holidays (winter)Between Term 2 and Term 3 | Sat 4 July 2026 | Sun 19 July 2026 | 16 days |
| Term 3 | Mon 20 July 2026 | Fri 25 Sept 2026 | 10 weeks |
| Term 3 holidays (spring)Between Term 3 and Term 4 | Sat 26 Sept 2026 | Sun 11 Oct 2026 | 16 days |
| Term 4 | Mon 12 Oct 2026 | No later than Fri 18 Dec 2026Many schools finish earlier | up to 10 weeks |
| Summer holidaysEnd of 2026 → start of 2027 | Sat 19 Dec 2026or earlier, if your school finishes early | Wed 27 Jan 2027or later, depending on your school | 40 days |
- Term 1 begins on a day each school chooses between Monday 26 January and Monday 9 February.
- Term 4 ends no later than Friday 18 December; summer holidays run for 5 or 6 weeks from your school's closing date.
- Easter Tuesday is a school holiday.
- Schools also close for teacher-only days, public holidays and local anniversary days. Secondary schools may close earlier at the end of the year than primary schools.
- Applies to
- New Zealand state schools, kura and state-integrated schools
- Source
- NZ Ministry of Education – school terms and holidays dates
- Status
- Confirmed by official source
- Last checked
- Saturday 10 October 2026
- Updated
- Saturday 10 October 2026
Make the most of the 2026 school holidays.
Explore School Holiday ProgramsGood to know about New Zealand school holidays
- New Zealand has one national calendar for state and state-integrated schools — there are no regional school holiday dates.
- Schools can choose their own Term 1 start within a window set by the Ministry, and Term 4 has a latest permitted finish date. Your school's exact first and last days may differ from the dates shown.
- Schools may also close for a small number of extra days (for example teacher only days), so always check your school's own calendar.
- Public holidays that fall during term (such as Anzac Day or a King's Birthday holiday) are days off school but are not counted as school holidays.
Official source: New Zealand Ministry of Education
Free things to do these school holidays
Keep Kiwi kids busy, happy and learning with free activities you can start today — no bookings needed.
A printable bingo card of reading challenges — read in a cubby, read to a pet, read a comic — to keep books fun all holidays.
Using only paper and tape, design a bridge between two books that holds as many coins as possible.