Here's how you can turn 14 days of annual leave into 36 days off in 2025

The countdown to the end of the year is well and truly on and many of us have turned our minds to those long summer days and a well-earned break.

So how can you use the least amount of annual leave, for the longest stretch of time off? And when are the key dates to be aware of in 2025?

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

And if you really want to take advantage of these public holidays, Jase's got some hacks to make sure you get 36 days off work from only 14 days of leave. 

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

Christmas Day and Boxing Day, as well as the New Year’s statutory holidays, fall on a Wednesday and Thursday in 2024.

Use those stat days, along with six days of annual leave, to take off December 23, 24 and 27, along with December 30 and 31 and January 3 to get a 16-day stretch of time off work.

Annual leave days: 6
Days off: 16

Easter weekend and Anzac Day 2025

These fall in the same week next year so, by booking annual leave for April 14-17 and April 22-24, you’ll use seven days of annual leave, but get 16 days off work.

Annual leave days: 7
Days off: 16

Waitangi Day 2025

Waitangi Day falls on a Thursday, so by using one annual leave day on Friday, February 7, you’ll get a four-day weekend.

Annual leave days: 1
Days off: 4

So, if you book these 14 days of annual leave you'll be in for a beautiful 36 days off - talk about Feel Good! But if you're looking for some more four-day weekends then scroll on, as we've still got King's Birthday weekend, Matariki and Labour Day - plus your region's anniversary day. 
Taking these extra weekends will turn 17 days of annual leave into 49 days off!

Bonus four-day weekends:

King’s Birthday Weekend 2025

With King’s Birthday falling on Monday 2 June, you can eke out another four-day weekend by taking a day off on Friday 30 May. Go on, treat yourself.

Annual leave days: 1
Days off: 4

Matariki 2025

Matariki falls on Friday 20 June, which means you get a three-day weekend as is. However, you could take Monday 23 June 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 2025

With Labour Day falling on Monday 27 October, you can take Friday 24 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

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!

When are the public and anniversary holidays in 2025?

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 in October-November, meaning they can kick summer off early!

New Year’s Day - January 1
Day after New Year’s Day - January 2
Wellington Anniversary - January 20
Auckland Anniversary - January 27
Nelson Anniversary - February 3
Waitangi Day - February 6
Taranaki Anniversary - March 10
Otago Anniversary - March 24
Good Friday - April 18
Easter Monday - April 21
Southland Anniversary - April 22
Anzac Day - April 25
King’s Birthday - June 2
Matariki - June 20
South Canterbury Anniversary - September 22
Hawke’s Bay Anniversary - October 24
Labour Day - October 27
Marlborough Anniversary - November 3
Canterbury Anniversary - November 14
Chatham Islands Anniversary and Westland Anniversary - December 1
Christmas Day - December 25
Boxing Day - December 26

What about school terms in 2025?

While exact start dates for individual schools differ, Term 1 starts between Monday, January 27 and Friday, February 7 (at the latest).

Term 1 is 11 weeks long, with the last day being April 11.

Term 2: Nine weeks. Begins on April 28 and ends June 27, and includes two public holidays; King’s Birthday on Monday, June 2 and Matariki on Friday, June 20.

Term 3: 10 weeks. Begins July 14 and ends September 19. There are no public holidays in Term 3.

Term 4: Begins October 6 and ends December 19, and includes the Labour Day public holiday on October 27.

When are the term one school holidays?

The first lot of school holidays run from April 12 to April 27 and include Easter and Anzac Day.

Bring on 2025!