King's Birthday 2024 in New Zealand

New Zealanders celebrate King Charles III's official birthday on the first Monday of June each year.

Is King's Birthday a Public Holiday?

King's Birthday is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.

Celebrating the Sovereign

On the first Monday in June, New Zealanders celebrate the official birthday of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with the King or Queen of the UK acting as the head of state.

Until 2022, the first Monday in June was known as Queen’s Birthday and dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II. Following her passing, King Charles III ascended to the British throne, which also made him Head of the Commonwealth and, therefore, King of New Zealand. Soon after, the holiday was officially renamed King’s Birthday.

Many Kiwis Hit the Slopes

Most New Zealanders have the day off on King’s Birthday, creating a long weekend.

June is the first winter month in the Southern Hemisphere, and the holiday traditionally marks the beginning of the ski season.

Not the Real Birthday

King’s Birthday is not celebrated on the king’s actual birthday. King Charles III was born on November 14, 1948.

The official date was set to June to increase the chance of fair weather during the birthday celebrations in the United Kingdom. In the Northern Hemisphere, June is the first month of summer and it is one of the driest and warmest months of the year in London.

The Sovereign’s Birthday Observance Act of 1952 stipulates that New Zealand celebrate the birthday on the same date, although the weather there typically leaves much to be desired during that time of the year, and some other places Down Under celebrate the occasion in the Southern Hemisphere summer.

Only a Symbolic Role

As the Monarch of the Commonwealth Realms, King Charles III is the official head of state of New Zealand.

However, the monarch's representative in New Zealand, the governor-general, has only symbolic and ceremonial roles and is not involved in the day-to-day running of the government, which is the domain of the prime minister.

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.