There’s a quiet shift happening on New Zealand’s calendar. What generations of Kiwis knew as the Queen’s Birthday weekend has, since 2023, carried a new name — and for many, the change has raised practical questions about dates, closures, and why we celebrate at all; this guide lays out the confirmed facts, from the official date to what stays open, and traces how a 1748 British tradition became a modern June holiday.

4 related posts

Holiday date 2025 Monday, 2 June ·
First celebrated (as King’s Birthday) 2023 ·
National public holiday Yes ·
King’s actual birthday 14 November ·
Number of national public holidays in NZ 11

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • King’s Birthday 2025: Monday 2 June (NZ Government holiday calendar)
  • Next national holiday after King’s Birthday: Matariki on 10 July 2025 (NZ Government holiday calendar)
The upshot

New Zealanders get a reliable long weekend — but the real shift is symbolic: after 70 years of Queen’s Birthday, the holiday now reflects a new monarch without changing its day or rules.

Five facts define the holiday at a glance:

Label Value
Official name King’s Birthday
Date 2025 Monday, 2 June
Type National public holiday
Next holiday Matariki on 10 July 2025
Number of years celebrated (as King’s Birthday) 3 (since 2023)

Does NZ have a public holiday for King’s birthday?

Yes — King’s Birthday is a national public holiday across all of New Zealand. The New Zealand Government official public holidays page (govt.nz, the authoritative regulatory source) lists it alongside New Year’s Day, Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Matariki, Labour Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day — making it one of 11 national public holidays.

Is Monday the King’s birthday a public holiday?

Yes. The holiday always falls on a Monday — specifically the first Monday of June — so the question often arises: is that Monday actually the King’s birth date? It is not. King Charles III’s actual birthday is 14 November, as RNZ (established New Zealand public broadcaster) explains. The Monday celebration is the monarch’s “official birthday,” a separate tradition dating back centuries.

When is King’s Birthday in New Zealand in 2025?

Mark your calendar for Monday, 2 June 2025. Multiple sources confirm the same date: Employment New Zealand, the NZ Government, timeanddate, and NZ Calendar. Note that PublicHolidays.org.nz (non-government aggregator) lists a different date — 14 June — which conflicts with official government sources. Always rely on the government’s own calendar for accurate planning.

Bottom line: King’s Birthday 2025 is Monday 2 June — a national paid public holiday. Employees who work that day are entitled to time-and-a-half plus an alternative paid day off.

The pattern: the holiday is a guaranteed Monday off for most workers, but the exact benefits depend on individual employment terms.

Why does NZ celebrate Kings’ birthday?

The answer goes back further than most people expect — to a monarch who reigned in the 1700s and needed decent weather for his birthday parade.

Why does the monarch have two birthdays?

The tradition of two birthdays dates to King George II in 1748. As RNZ (public broadcaster with historical context) reports, George II’s actual birthday was in November, but November in England meant cold, wet weather unsuitable for the annual Trooping the Colour parade. So he combined his birthday celebration with the summer military parade, creating a separate “official birthday.” Every British and Commonwealth monarch since has followed the same pattern.

  • Actual birthday of King Charles III: 14 November
  • Official birthday (celebrated in New Zealand): first Monday of June
  • Reason: better weather for public celebrations, a tradition that has persisted for 277 years

What is the history of the King’s Birthday holiday in New Zealand?

New Zealand’s connection to the monarch’s birthday holiday began when it was still a British colony. After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, New Zealand observed a King’s Birthday for Edward VII. The holiday became the Queen’s Birthday in 1952 upon Elizabeth II’s accession, and remained so for 70 years. Following Elizabeth’s death in September 2022 and Charles III’s immediate accession, the 2023 holiday was the first celebrated as King’s Birthday — as PublicHoliday.co.nz (public holiday data resource) notes by referring to it as “previously Queen’s Birthday.”

The pattern: the holiday name changed, but the date rule — first Monday of June — stayed identical.

The paradox

New Zealand marks the monarch’s official birthday with a public holiday, but the King himself will be celebrating his actual birthday five months later, in November. Two birthdays, one of them a paid day off — few traditions are this generous.

Bottom line: The implication: the tradition of two birthdays, while quirky, gives New Zealanders a consistent June long weekend.

What is closed on Kings Birthday, NZ?

For anyone planning the long weekend, the practical question is: what can I do, and what will be shut?

Are shops open on King’s Birthday?

Generally, yes. Trading restrictions are less strict on King’s Birthday than on Easter Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas Day, or the morning of Anzac Day. As RNZ (public broadcaster covering retail law) clarifies, the usual Easter/Christmas trading curbs do not apply. Shops, restaurants, and cafes can open according to their own hours — though some may choose to close or operate reduced hours, and a typical public-holiday surcharge of around 15% has been reported at some establishments.

  • Closed: Government offices, Work and Income offices (Work and Income NZ closure notice), schools, banks, and most council services
  • Open (possibly): Supermarkets, dairies, petrol stations, cafes, restaurants — check local listings
  • Public transport: May run on a reduced Sunday/holiday schedule — check your regional provider’s timetable

What are the public holiday rules in New Zealand?

If you’re required to work on King’s Birthday, the law gives you two protections — laid out in RNZ’s employment law coverage:

  • Time-and-a-half pay for hours worked on the public holiday
  • An alternative paid day off (a “lieu day”) if the holiday would have otherwise been a normal working day

Not everyone qualifies. Casual employees, contractors, and those whose employment agreements specify different arrangements may have different entitlements. The Employment New Zealand website (government labour authority) has the full statutory language.

Bottom line: Government offices, schools, and banks are closed. Shops and restaurants may open but expect surcharges. Public transport runs on a reduced schedule. Check local listings.

The catch: while most services are closed, retail and hospitality remain open, making it a day for leisure rather than errands.

When did the Queen’s Birthday become King’s Birthday?

The shift was automatic under New Zealand law, but the calendar timing created a one-year gap. Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022. By the next public holiday in June 2023, the name had changed. According to timeanddate (established calendar reference), the first King’s Birthday observance in New Zealand was in 2023. The date rule — first Monday of June — never changed.

Why this matters

For Kiwis under 70, the June long weekend was always “Queen’s Birthday.” The transition to “King’s Birthday” means a generation is adapting to a new label while enjoying the same statutory benefits. The real change is symbolic — and it matters for national identity, especially as New Zealand debates its broader constitutional ties to the monarchy.

The change is a quiet constitutional marker, reminding New Zealanders of their evolving ties to the monarchy.

Timeline: The King’s Birthday holiday in New Zealand

Six key dates trace the journey from an 18th-century British parade to a 21st-century Kiwi long weekend.

  • 1748 — King George II establishes the tradition of two birthdays: a private actual birth date and a public official celebration in summer (RNZ historical context)
  • 1901 — Following Queen Victoria’s death, New Zealand observes its first King’s Birthday holiday for Edward VII
  • 1952 — Elizabeth II becomes Queen; the holiday is renamed Queen’s Birthday and observed for 70 consecutive years
  • 2022 — Queen Elizabeth II dies on 8 September; Charles III becomes King immediately
  • 2023 — First official King’s Birthday holiday in New Zealand, on 5 June (timeanddate records)
  • 2025 — King’s Birthday falls on Monday 2 June (Employment New Zealand confirmed)

Confirmed facts

  • King’s Birthday is a national public holiday in New Zealand (New Zealand Government statutory list)
  • Date in 2025: Monday 2 June (Employment New Zealand government authority)
  • King Charles III’s actual birthday: 14 November (RNZ factual confirmation)
  • Employees who work on the holiday are entitled to time-and-a-half and an alternative paid day off (RNZ employment law coverage)
  • Work and Income offices closed on 2 June 2025 (Work and Income NZ official notice)
  • No special trading restrictions apply (unlike Easter or Christmas) (RNZ retail law explanation)

These facts are well-established and supported by government sources.

What’s unclear

  • Whether all shops in every region will open on 2 June 2025 — trading hours vary by location and individual business policy (RNZ notes regional variation)
  • Exact public transport schedules for the 2025 holiday — not yet published by most regional councils as of early 2025 (RNZ advises checking regional provider)
  • Whether the holiday will be renamed in the future if the monarch changes (timeanddate holiday history)
  • The exact entitlement for casual employees and contractors is not universally defined (Employment New Zealand general guidance)
  • Whether all schools will be closed on 2 June 2025 (most are, but some may have teacher-only days) (NZ Government school calendar)
  • The long-term future of the holiday is uncertain given ongoing constitutional debates about the monarchy (RNZ constitutional discussion)

These uncertainties highlight the need to check local arrangements before the holiday.

Key quotes

“King’s Birthday is not the monarch’s actual birthday; King Charles III’s birthday is 14 November.”

RNZ (public broadcaster)

“King’s Birthday is a national public holiday in New Zealand.”

New Zealand Government (govt.nz)

The transition from Queen’s Birthday to King’s Birthday in New Zealand is more than a label swap — it’s a quiet constitutional signal with practical consequences for every employee, employer, and weekend planner. For Kiwis planning their June 2025 long weekend, the date is locked in: Monday 2 June. Government offices and schools close. Shops may open, but expect a surcharge. And the holiday carries a 277-year tradition that explains why a King born in November gets a June party. For New Zealand workers, the choice is clear: plan for a paid day off on 2 June, or negotiate time-and-a-half if you’re rostered on.

Additional sources

nzherald.co.nz, civiccalendar.com, publicholidays.co.nz, nzcalendar.nz

For those interested in how the holiday was observed the previous year, the 2024 Kings Birthday NZ article provides a detailed look at the 2024 celebrations and closures.

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Frequently asked questions

Is King’s Birthday a paid public holiday in New Zealand?

Yes — for most employees, it is a paid public holiday under New Zealand law. If you work on the day, you are generally entitled to time-and-a-half pay and an alternative paid day off if the day would have been a normal working day. Check your employment agreement for specifics.

Do all employees get King’s Birthday off?

Not automatically. Some industries, particularly retail, hospitality, and essential services, require staff to work on public holidays. Those employees receive penalty rates and lieu days as specified in the Holidays Act 2003.

What happens if King’s Birthday falls on a weekend?

Because King’s Birthday is always observed on the first Monday of June, it never falls on a weekend. The holiday is always a Monday. If your workplace normally operates Monday–Friday, you get the Monday off as a paid day.

Does Australia celebrate King’s Birthday on the same day?

No — most Australian states celebrate on the second Monday of June, though Western Australia and Queensland have different dates. New Zealand’s date (first Monday of June) is independent and does not align with Australia’s observance.

Will the King’s Birthday be renamed in the future?

The holiday name changes automatically when a new monarch ascends. If King Charles III were to abdicate or pass away, the holiday would be renamed for the next monarch — as happened when Queen Elizabeth II died and the Queen’s Birthday became the King’s Birthday in 2023.

What was the King’s Birthday called before 2023?

Queen’s Birthday. It was observed under that name in New Zealand from 1952 until 2022. The holiday existed as the King’s Birthday before 1952, when New Zealand celebrated the birthday of the reigning monarch under whichever title was current.

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