2025 Early Learning Calendar
Your 2025 early learning calendar with school holidays, national holidays and funding dates, as well as cultural, social and international awareness days for inspiration and planning.
Please enjoy this 2025 early learning calendar. You can refer to this list of school holidays, national holidays and funding dates, as well as cultural, social and international awareness days for inspiration in helping expand the horizons of the children at your service. Bookmark this page and check back often for updates.
(*Dates are subject to change, and those yet to be confirmed will be updated when information becomes available.)
This is by no means a definitive list, but it is comprehensive enough to represent a wide variety of
interests and observances. If you think we’ve missed anything or have spotted an error, please contact us to
let us know.
Instructions:
Click on a month to expand. You can check/uncheck boxes to display or hide the types of holidays/observed
days you’d like to see.
2025 Early Learning Calendar
20 Dec ’24–7 Feb ’25: Term 4 Holidays Start
Jan: Veganuary
Jan: Walk Your Dog Month
1 Jan (Wed): New Year’s Day
1 Jan (Wed): Public Domain Day
2 Jan (Thu): Day after New Year’s Day
2 Jan (Thu): National Science Fiction Day
2 Jan (Thu): World Introvert Day
3 Jan (Fri): Ministry of Education National Office reopens
4 Jan (Sat): World Braille Day
4 Jan (Sat): World Spaghetti Day
7 Jan (Tue): Orthodox Christmas Day
10 Jan (Fri): Houseplant Appreciation Day
10 Jan (Fri): World Hindi Day
11 Jan (Sat): Clean Off Your Desk Day
11 Jan (Sat): Girl Hug Boy Day
12 Jan (Sun): Earth Chakra Day
12 Jan (Sun): Teddy Bears Picnic
13 Jan (Mon): Rubber Duckie Day
14 Jan (Tue): International Kite Day
14 Jan (Tue): Makar Sankranti (Hindu)
14 Jan (Tue): Orthodox New Year
15 Jan (Wed): Wikipedia Day
17 Jan (Fri): Kid Inventor’s Day
18 Jan (Sat): Winnie the Pooh Day
19 Jan (Sun): World Religion Day
20 Jan (Mon): Martin Luther King Jr Day
20 Jan (Mon): Penguin Awareness Day
20 Jan (Mon): Wellington Anniversary
21 Jan (Tue): National Hug Day
21 Jan (Tue): Squirrel Appreciation Day
24 Jan (Fri): International Day of Education
27 Jan (Mon): Auckland Anniversary
27 Jan (Mon): Chocolate Cake Day
27 Jan (Mon): Holocaust Memorial Day
28 Jan (Tue): National Lego Day
29 Jan (Wed): Lunar/Chinese New Year (Dragon)
29 Jan (Wed): Puzzle Day
Feb: Pride Month (Auckland)
Feb: Feel Good Feb
1 Feb (Sat): March 2025 electronic RS7 submission period opens
1 Feb (Sat): Read Aloud Day
1 Feb (Sat): World Hijab Day
2 Feb (Sun): World Tutu Day
2 Feb (Sun): World Wetlands Day
3 Feb (Mon): Nelson Anniversary
4 Feb (Tue): Physical Disability Awareness Day
4 Feb (Tue): World Cancer Day
5 Feb (Wed): World Nutella Day
6 Feb (Thu): Waitangi Day
9 Feb (Sun): International Pizza Day
10 Feb (Mon): Last submission day of March 2025 RS7s for 1 March payment
11 Feb (Tue): International Day of Women and Girls in Science Day
11 Feb (Tue): Safer Internet Day
12 Feb (Wed): International Darwin Day
12 Feb (Wed): Lantern Festival
12 Feb (Wed): Magha Puja Day
13 Feb (Thu): Pancake Day
13 Feb (Thu): World Radio Day
14 Feb (Fri): International Book Giving Day
14 Feb (Fri): Library Lovers’ Day
14 Feb (Fri): Valentine’s Day
Mid–Feb: New services to be advised of Equity Index assessment results and services that requested reviews
15 Feb (Sat): International Singles Awareness Day
15 Feb (Sat): Random Acts of Kindess Day
18 Feb (Tue): International Asperger’s Day
19 Feb (Wed): International Tug-of-War Day
20 Feb (Thu): National Love Your Pet Day
20 Feb (Thu): World Day of Social Justice
21 Feb (Fri): International Mother Language Day
21 Feb (Fri): World Harmony Day
22 Feb (Sat): Walk your Dog Day
22 Feb (Sat): World Thinking Day
26 Feb (Wed): Tell a Fairy Tale Day
Mar: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Mar: Epilepsy Awareness Month
Mar: Polite Pets Month
Mar: Pride Month (Christchurch, Wellington)
Mar: Walk for Water
1–7 Mar: Hearing Awareness Week
1–9 Mar: Sea Week (Kaupapa Moana)
1 Mar (Sat): Baby Sleep Day
1 Mar (Sat): International Wheelchair Day
1 Mar (Sat): World Compliment Day
1 Mar (Sat): Zero Discrimination Day
2 Mar (Sun): National Childrenʼs Day
2 Mar (Sun): Dr Seuss Day
3 Mar (Mon): 01 March 2025 ECE operational funding payment
3 Mar (Mon): World Hearing Day
3 Mar (Mon): World Wildlife Day
4 Mar (Tue): Shrove Tuesday
5 Mar (Wed): Ash Wednesday
7 Mar (Fri): Last submission day of March 2025 RS7s for 20 March payment
8 Mar (Sat): International Woman’s Day
9 Mar (Sun): Auckland Pasifika Festival/Wellington Pride Parade
10 Mar (Mon): Taranaki Anniversary
11 Mar (Tue): Commonwealth Day
14 Mar (Fri): Holi
14 Mar (Fri): International Day of Mathematics
14 Mar (Fri): Pi Day
17 Mar (Mon): St Patrick’s Day
17 Mar–18 Apr: A Taste of Harmony
18 Mar (Tue): Global Recycling Day
19 Mar (Wed): International Read to Me Day
20 Mar (Thu): 20 March 2025 ECE operational funding payment
20 Mar (Thu): International Day of Happiness
20 Mar (Thu): Very Hungry Caterpillar Day
20 Mar (Thu): World Storytelling Day
21 Mar (Fri): International Day of Forests
21 Mar (Fri): World Down Syndrome Day
21 Mar (Fri): Race Relations Day
21 Mar (Fri): World Poetry Day
22 Mar (Sat): Earth Hour (8:30–9:30 pm)
22 Mar (Sat): World Water Day
23 Mar (Sun): World Meteorological Day
24 Mar (Mon): Otago Anniversary
26 Mar (Wed): Purple Day (Epilepsy Awareness Day)
26 Mar (Wed): World Maths Day
27 Mar (Thu): World Theatre Day
31 Mar (Mon): Eid al-Fitr
31 Mar (Mon): International Transgender Day of Visibility
Apr: World Autism Month
1 Apr (Tue): April Fool’s Day
2–8 Apr: World Autism Acceptance Week
2 Apr (Wed): International Children’s Book Day
2 Apr (Wed): World Autism Awareness Day
4 Apr (Fri): International Carrot Day
4 Apr (Fri): World Stray Animal Day
6 Apr (Sun): Daylight Savings Ends
7 Apr (Mon): World Health Day
12 Apr (Sat): International Day of Human Space Flight
12–27 Apr: Term 1 Holidays
13 Apr (Sun): Palm Sunday
15 Apr (Tue): International Day of Families
15 Apr (Tue): World Art Day
18 Apr (Fri): Good Friday
18 Apr (Fri): World Heritage Day
21 Apr (Mon): Easter Monday
21 Apr (Mon): World Creativity and Innovation Day
22 Apr (Tue): Earth Day
22 Apr (Tue): Easter Tuesday
22 Apr (Tue): Jelly Bean Day
22 Apr (Tue): Southland Anniversary
23 Apr (Wed): Administrative Professionals Day
23 Apr (Wed): World Book and Copyright Day
24 Apr (Thu): International Girls in ICT Day
24–30 Apr: World Immunisation Week
25 Apr (Fri): Anzac Day
25 Apr (Fri): World Penguin Day
26 Apr (Sat): World Veterinary Day
28 Apr (Mon): Pay It Forward Day
28 Apr (Mon): World Day for Safety and Health at Work
29 Apr (Tue): International Dance Day
30 Apr (Wed): International Guide Dog Day
30 Apr (Wed): International Jazz Day
May: NZ Music Month
1 May (Thu): International Workers Day
1 May (Thu): Mother Goose Day
3 May (Sat): World Press Freedom Day
4 May (Sun): International Firefighters Day
4 May (Sun): International Respect for Chickens Day
4 May (Sun): Star Wars Day
4 May (Sun): World Laughter Day
5 May (Mon): Buddha’s Birthday
6–12 May: NZ Sign Language Week
7 May (Wed): Dinosaur Day
7 May (Wed): World Asthma Day
8 May (Thu): Outdoor Classroom Day
10 May (Sat): World Fair Trade Day
11 May (Sun): Mothers Day
12 May (Mon): International Nurses Day
15 May (Thu): Global Accessibility Awareness Day
15 May (Thu): International Day of Families
16 May (Fri): Endangered Species Day
16 May (Fri): International Day of the Boy Child
16 May (Fri): Pink Shirt Day
17 May (Sat): International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
18 May (Sun): International Museum Day
18–26 May: World Orienteering Week
19–25 May: Tech Week
20 May (Tue): World Bee Day
21 May (Wed): International Tea Day
21 May (Wed): World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
22 May (Thu): International Day for Biological Diversity
23 May (Fri): World Turtle Day
24 May (Sat): UNICEF Day for Change
25 May (Sun): International Missing Children’s Day
26 May–1 Jun: Samoan Language Week
29 May (Thu): International Day of UN Peacekeepers
30 May (Fri): World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day
1–30 Jun: Pride Month
1 Jun (Sun): July 2025 electronic RS7 submission period opens
1 Jun (Sun): Butterfly Education and Awareness Day (BEAD)
1 Jun (Sun): Parents Day
1 Jun (Sun): Samoa Independence Day
1 Jun (Sun): World Milk Day
2 Jun (Mon): King’s Birthday
2–6 Jun: School’s Pride Week
4 Jun (Wed): International Hug Your Cat Day
4 Jun (Wed): Tonga Independence Emancipation Day
5 Jun (Thu): World Environment Day
6 Jun (Fri): National Gardening Exercise Day
7 Jun (Sat): Doughnut Day
8 Jun (Sun): National Best Friends Day
8 Jun (Sun): World Oceans Day
9 Jun (Mon): Last submission day of July 2025 RS7s for 1 July payment
9–15 Jun: Men’s Mental Health Week
Mid–Jun: New services to be advised of Equity Index assessments
11 Jun (Wed): United Nations (UN) International Day of Play
12 Jun (Thu): World Day Against Child Labour
13 Jun (Fri): National Weed Your Garden Day
14 Jun (Sat): International Bath Day
14 Jun (Sat): World Blood Donor Day
15 Jun (Sun): Global Wind Day
15–21 Jun: Refugee Week
15–22 Jun: Water Safety Week
16 Jun (Mon): National Vegemite Day
16–22 Jun: Learning Disability Week
17 Jun (Tue): World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
18 Jun (Wed): International Picnic Day
18 Jun (Wed): International Sushi Day
20 Jun (Fri): Matariki
20 Jun (Fri): World Refugee Day
21 Jun (Sat): International Yoga Day
21 Jun (Sat): World Humanist Day
21 Jun (Sat): World Music Day
23–29 Jun: Annual ECE Census Return dates
27 Jun (Fri): National Sunglasses Day
28 Jun–13 Jul: Term 2 Holidays
30 Jun (Mon): Financial declarations due for 2024 financial year
1 Jul (Tue): 01 July 2025 ECE operational funding payment
1 Jul (Tue): International Joke Day
1 Jul (Tue): International Reggae Day
1 Jul (Tue): Tartan Day
3 Jul (Thu): International Plastic Bag Free Day
7 Jul (Mon): World Chocolate Day
8 Jul (Tue): Last submission day of July 2025 RS7s for 20 July payment
12 Jul (Sat): Malala Day
14 Jul (Mon): Bastille Day
14 Jul (Mon): International Nonbinary People’s Day
14–20 Jul: Kiribati Language Week
15 Jul (Tue): World Youth Skills Day
16 Jul (Wed): World Snake Day
17 Jul (Thu): World Emoji Day
18 Jul (Fri): Nelson Mandela Day
18 Jul (Fri): Pyjama Day
21 Jul (Mon): 20 July 2025 ECE operational funding payment
21 Jul (Mon): International Lamington Day
25 Jul (Fri): Christmas in July
25 Jul (Fri): Red Nose Day
29 Jul (Tue): International Tiger Day
30 Jul (Wed): World Friendship Day
31 Jul (Thu): World Ranger Day
Aug: Happiness Happens Month
1–7 Aug: World Breastfeeding Week
4 Aug (Mon): Cook Islands Constitutional Day
4–10 Aug: Cook Islands Language Week
9 Aug (Sat): International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
10 Aug (Sun): World Lion Day
12 Aug (Tue): International Youth Day
12 Aug (Tue): World Elephant Day
13 Aug (Wed): Left Handers Day
14 Aug (Thu): World Lizard Day
16–23 Aug: Children’s Book Week
19 Aug (Tue): International Orangutan Day
19 Aug (Tue): National Potato Day
19 Aug (Tue): World Humanitarian Day
22 Aug (Fri): Daffodil Day
Sep: Biodiversity Month
Sep: International Children’s Cancer Awareness Month
Sep: Save the Koala Month
5–11 Sep (TBC): Child Safeguarding Week
5 Sep (Fri): International Day of Charity
7 Sep (Sun): Father’s Day
8 Sep (Mon): International Literacy Day
12 Sep (Fri): World Dolphin Day
13 Sep (Sat): Roald Dahl Day
13 Sep (Sat): World First Aid Day
15–22 Sep: Māori Language Week (Te Wiki o te Reo Māori)
15 Sep (Mon): International Day of Democracy
15 Sep (Mon): Māori Language Day
16 Sep (Tue): Ozone Day
19 Sep (Fri): Talk Like a Pirate Day
20 Sep (Sat): Clean up the World Day
20–26 Sep: Deaf Awareness Week
20 Sep–5 Oct: Term 3 Holidays
21 Sep (Sun): International Day of Peace
21 Sep (Sun): World Gratitude Day
22 Sep (Mon): South Canterbury Anniversary
22 Sep (Mon): World Rhino Day
23 Sep (Tue): International Day Of Sign Languages
26 Sep (Fri): Save the Koala Day
29 Sep (Mon): Daylight Saving Starts
29 Sep (Mon): World Heart Day
Oct: ADHD Awareness Month
Oct: Dyslexia Awareness Month
Oct: International School Library Month (ISLM)
Oct: International Walk To School Month
Oct: Mental Health Month
1 Oct (Wed): November 2025 electronic RS7 submission period opens
1 Oct (Wed): Tuvalu Independence Day
1 Oct (Wed): International Day of Older Persons
1 Oct (Wed): International Coffee Day
1 Oct (Wed): World Vegetarian Day
2 Oct (Thu): International Day of Non-Violence
2 Oct (Thu): World Farm Animal Day
4 Oct (Sat): International Taco Day
4 Oct (Sat): World Animal Day
4 Oct (Sat): World Smile Day
4–10 Oct: Space Week
5 Oct (Sun): Grandparents’ Day
5 Oct (Sun): World Teachers Day
6 Oct (Mon): World Cerebral Palsy Day
6–12 Oct: Fijian Language Week
7 Oct (Tue): World Cotton Day
7 Oct (Tue): World Habitat Day
8 Oct (Wed): World Dyslexia Awareness Day
9 Oct (Thu): International Pronouns Day
9 Oct (Thu): World Post Day
9 Oct (Thu): World Sight Day
10 Oct (Fri): Fiji Independance Day
10 Oct (Fri): Last submission day of November 2025 RS7s for 1 November payment
10 Oct (Fri): World Egg Day
10 Oct (Fri): World Mental Health Day
11 Oct (Sat): International Day of the Girl Child
15 Oct (Wed): Global Handwashing Day
16 Oct (Thu): World Bread Day
16 Oct (Thu): World Food Day
17 Oct (Fri): Loud Shirt Day
19 Oct (Sun): Niue Independance Day
20 Oct (Mon): Diwali
24 Oct (Fri): Hawke’s Bay Anniversary
24 Oct (Fri): United Nations Day
24 Oct (Fri): World Kangaroo Day
25 Oct (Sat): World Pasta Day
27 Oct (Mon): Labour Day
27 Oct–2 Nov: Tokelau Language Week
29 Oct (Wed): Teacher’s Day (NZ)
31 Oct (Fri): Halloween
Nov: Movember (Men’s Health Month)
Nov: National Adoption Awareness Month
Nov: National Novel Writing Month
Nov: World Vegan Month
1 Nov (Sat): 01 November 2025 ECE operational funding payment
1 Nov (Sat): World Vegan Day
3 Nov (Mon): Marlborough Anniversary
5 Nov (Wed): Guy Fawkes Day
7 Nov (Fri): Gumboot Day
7 Nov (Fri): Last submission day of November 2025 RS7s for 20 November payment
8 Nov (Sat): World Urbanism Day
10–16 Nov: Recycling Week
10–16 Nov: Recycling Week
13 Nov (Thu): World Kindness Day
14 Nov (Fri): Canterbury Anniversary
14 Nov (Fri): World Diabetes Day
16 Nov (Sun): International Day for Tolerance
17 Nov (Mon): International Students’ Day
18–24 Nov: World Nursery Rhyme Week
19 Nov (Wed): International Men’s Day
19 Nov (Wed): International Transgender Day of Remembrance
19 Nov (Wed): World Toilet Day
20 Nov (Thu): 20 November 2025 ECE operational funding payment
20 Nov (Thu): World Children’s Day
21 Nov (Fri): World Hello Day
21 Nov (Fri): World Television Day
24 Nov (Mon): Fairy Bread Day
24–30 Nov: Solomon Islands Language Week
25 Nov (Tue): White Ribbon Day
30 Nov (Sun): Computer Security Day
1 Dec (Mon): Chatham Islands Anniversary
1 Dec (Mon): Westland Anniversary
1 Dec (Mon): World AIDS Day
3 Dec (Wed): International Day of Persons with Disabilities
4 Dec (Thu): World Cookie Day
5 Dec (Fri): Volunteer Day
5 Dec (Fri): World Soil Day
7 Dec (Sun): International Civil Aviation Day
10 Dec (Wed): International Animal Rights Day
10 Dec (Wed): International Human Rights Day
11 Dec (Thu): International Mountain Day
18 Dec (Thu): International Migrants Day
20 Dec (Sat): International Human Solidarity Day
20 Dec (Sat): Term 4 Holidays Start
25 Dec (Thu): Christmas Day
26 Dec (Fri): Boxing Day
31 Dec (Wed): New Year’s Eve
