Official nationwide term-break dates, with flexible school opening and closing dates noted.
New Zealand schools and kura generally have a break between each of the four terms, followed by a longer summer holiday after Term 4. The published national dates are useful for planning, but the first opening day of Term 1 and the final closing day of Term 4 can vary between schools within official limits.
The autumn, winter and spring breaks sit between the middle terms and are usually easier to plan around because the national ranges are clearly defined. The summer break needs an extra check because schools can finish on different dates before the official latest closing day. If you are booking travel close to the end of Term 4, confirm the student's actual school finish date first.
Families can use these dates to arrange annual leave, holiday programmes, visits with relatives and domestic travel. If siblings attend different schools, compare both school calendars around the start and end of the year. The difference may be only a few days, but that can matter for childcare or prepaid accommodation.
Not every non-attendance day appears in the main national holiday table. Schools may schedule teacher-only days, and local circumstances can create additional closures. Add those school-specific dates to your family calendar once they are published rather than assuming the national break dates cover every day the children are home.
The Ministry of Education calendar is the authoritative national starting point. The student's school or kura provides the final detail for its own opening, closing and teacher-only days. For travel, paid care or other commitments where the date matters financially, verify both before booking.