Here's how you can turn 12 days of annual leave into over 40 days off in 2024

Public holidays really are the best, what's not to love?!

If you're fortunate enough to get the day off work, you get to spend the day relaxing and making memories with your friends and family.

But if you really want to take advantage of these public holidays, we've got a cheeky little hack to get you 46 days off work from only 15 days of leave. 

If you work full-time in New Zealand, you're entitled to at least four paid weeks of leave every year.

By moving around some of these dates in your calendar, you're able to be off work for over a month!

Christmas and New Year: December 23 - January 2

Jackpot! Christmas and Boxing Day fall on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 this year, giving you a four-day weekend. If you take the next three days off afterwards, you will be on holiday until January 2 thanks to a weekend and two days off for New Year. That’s a total of 11 days off for just three days of annual leave.

Annual leave days: 3

Days off: 11

Waitangi Day: February 3-6

Since Waitangi Day falls on a Tuesday next year, that means that Monday 5 February is crying out to be taken as leave.

Annual leave days: 1

Days off: 4

Easter Holidays: March 29-April 7

The Easter period is jam-packed with holidays and it is a perfect chance to take a full 10 days off. With Easter falling early, Good Friday is March 29, and Easter Monday on April 1. That’s already four days off work with no annual leave used!

However, if you feel like another six days off work you only need to use four annual leave days, giving you a well-earned 10-day holiday for the price of just four!

Annual leave days: 4

Days off: 10

Anzac Day: April 26-28

Just when you think April can’t get any better, you get another chance at a four-day weekend. With Anzac Day falling on Thursday 25 April, it means you can get four days off by using an annual leave day on Friday 26.

If you can capitalise on both Easter and Anzac weekends, you’ll end up with 14 days off in April alone! Not a bad way to see out the New Zealand summer!

Annual leave days: 1

Days off: 4

King’s Birthday Weekend: May 31-June 3

With King’s Birthday falling on Monday 3 June, you can eke out another four-day weekend by taking a day off on Friday 31 May. Go on, treat yourself.

Annual leave days: 1

Days off: 4

Matariki: June 28-July 1

With Matariki falling on Friday 28 June, it means you get a three-day weekend as is. However, you could take Monday 1 July off and enjoy the four-day weekend, and the last public holiday until the end of October.

Annual leave days: 1

Days off: 4

Labour Day: October 25-28

With Labour Day falling on Monday 28 October, you can take Friday 25 October off to score yourself a four-day holiday for the price of one. Saving at least one annual leave day for this will be worthwhile given the next holiday period is Christmas.

Annual leave days: 1

Days off: 4

Anniversary Day:

Regional public holidays will also help you to maximise those four-day weekends and get the most out of your annual leave. 

Wellington, Auckland and Nelson's Anniversary Days all fall in January, helping you to get the most out of your summer, while Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, and Cantanbrians have theirs October - November, meaning they can kick summer off early!

Wellington Anniversary: January, Monday 22nd
Auckland Anniversary: January, Monday 29th
Nelson Anniversary: January, Monday 29th
Taranaki Anniversary: March, Monday 11th
Otago Anniversary: March, Monday 25th
Southland Anniversary: April, Tuesday 2nd
South Canterbury Anniversary: September, Monday 23rd
Hawke's Bay Anniversary: October, Friday 25th
Marlborough Anniversary: November, Monday 4th
Canterbury Anniversary: November, Friday 15th
Chatham Islands Anniversary: December, Monday 2nd
Westland Anniversary: December, Monday 2nd

Now that we've done all the hard work for you - all you need to do is sit back, relax and cross your fingers that your leave gets accepted!