Good Friday

Good Friday is part of the Christian Holy Week calendar and has long been a statutory public holiday in New Zealand. The day’s religious meaning centres on the crucifixion of Jesus, while for many households it also begins an autumn long weekend.

The holiday has practical significance as well as devotional meaning. Trading, sport and service arrangements can be more restricted or altered, so local opening information matters for travellers and families.

Good Friday fell on April 3 in 2026 and is one of New Zealand's twelve national public holidays. It is also a restricted shop-trading day: most shops must close unless a statutory exemption applies, but that retail rule does not close every workplace or replace Holidays Act pay obligations. Easter Sunday is separately a restricted trading day yet is not itself a public holiday. Under the Holidays Act, a paid day off depends on whether the date would otherwise be a working day for the employee. Someone required to work receives at least time-and-a-half and, when it is otherwise a working day, an alternative holiday. An open hospital, transport service, hospitality business or exempt shop therefore does not mean that employee rights disappear.