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Good Friday 2024 in New Zealand

Good Friday is a religious and statutory public holiday in New Zealand. It is on the Friday before Easter Sunday. Many Christians remember Jesus Christ's crucifixion on Good Friday.

Is Good Friday a Public Holiday?

Good Friday is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.

Depiction of Jesus carrying the cross up the hill.

The cross - a reminder of Jesus' suffering and death.

©iStockphoto.com/wwing

What Do People Do?

Good Friday is the start of a four-day weekend, which includes Easter Monday, in New Zealand. Many people go on short trips out of town or spend time with family. Many churches hold special services and some may hold long prayer vigils. Some churches, especially Catholic churches, see Good Friday as a fast day and people only eat three small meals and, often, no meat at all. Some people substitute meat with fish.

Public Life

Good Friday is a public holiday in New Zealand so schools, government offices and many businesses are closed.

Background

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and is a day of mourning for Christians. It is an important date in church calendars, as the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are central events in Christian beliefs. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox.

Symbols

The cross is a popular Good Friday symbol. It is a reminder of the cross that Jesus died on

About Good Friday in Other Countries

Read more about Good Friday.

Good Friday Observances

YearWeekdayDateNameHoliday Type
2019FriApr 19Good FridayNational holiday
2020FriApr 10Good FridayNational holiday
2021FriApr 2Good FridayNational holiday
2022FriApr 15Good FridayNational holiday
2023FriApr 7Good FridayNational holiday
2024FriMar 29Good FridayNational holiday
2025FriApr 18Good FridayNational holiday
2026FriApr 3Good FridayNational holiday
2027FriMar 26Good FridayNational holiday
2028FriApr 14Good FridayNational holiday
2029FriMar 30Good FridayNational holiday

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.