Holiday Details
- Holiday Name
- Auckland Anniversary Day
- Country
- New Zealand
- Date
- January 26, 2026
- Day of Week
- Monday
- Status
- 23 days away
- About this Holiday
- Auckland Anniversary Day is a local holiday in New Zealand
Auckland Anniversary Day
New Zealand • January 26, 2026 • Monday
23
Days
08
Hours
51
Mins
11
Secs
until Auckland Anniversary Day
Pacific/Auckland timezone
About Auckland Anniversary Day
Also known as: Auckland Anniversary Day
Te Rā Whakamaharatanga o Tāmaki Makaurau: He Whakanui i te Moana me te Hītori
Ko te Rā Whakamaharatanga o Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland Anniversary Day) tētahi o ngā rā whakatā tino nui i te raki o Aotearoa. He rā tēnei e whakakotahi ana i te hītori o te motu, te kotahitanga o te hapori, me te aroha nui o ngā tāngata ki te moana. Ehara i te mea he whakanui noa i te tāone nui o Tāmaki, engari he wā tēnei e okioki ai ngā whānau i raro i te rā o te raumati, e mātakitaki ai i ngā rārangi kaipuke i runga i te Waitematā, me te mahara ki ngā hononga i waenga i te Māori me te Karauna i te tīmatanga o te kawanatanga ā-pākehā ki tēnei whenua.
Tāpae noa, ko Tāmaki Makaurau te "City of Sails" (te tāone o ngā rā), ā, i tēnei rā, ka kitea te take i tapaina ai tēnei ingoa. He rā whakahirahira tēnei mō te hunga kaingākau ki te whakatere waka, ki te hī ika, ki te haere ki te tātahi rānei. Mai i te tau 1840, kua tū tēnei huihuinga, ā, koinei tētahi o ngā huihuinga hākinakina tawhito rawa atu kei te haere tonu i tēnei taha o te ao. He rā tēnei e whakaata ana i te wairua o te hunga e noho ana i te raki—he wairua rākeitanga, he wairua hākinakina, ā, he wairua whakatā hoki i te wā e mahana ana te huarere.
I te rā nei, ka kapi te moana i te rau rā, mai i ngā waka taua Māori (waka) ki te hunga whakatere rā hou, tae noa ki ngā poti tere me ngā waka hī ika tawhito. He whakaaturanga ataahua tēnei e whakaatu ana i te hononga hohonu o te iwi o Aotearoa ki te moana e karapoti ana i a tātou. I tua atu i te moana, he nui ngā huihuinga ki uta, pēnei i ngā konohete, ngā huihuinga kai, me ngā tākaro mā te whānau, e hanga ana i tētahi wairua harikoa puta noa i te rohe.
Āhea te Rā Whakamaharatanga i te tau 2026?
I te tau 2026, ka tū te rā whakatā ā-rohe mō Tāmaki Makaurau i te:
Te Rā: Monday Te Rā o te Marama: January 26, 2026 Te Wā e Toe Ana: 23 ngā rā e toe ana
He mea nui kia mahara ko te rā tūturu o te huritau ko te 29 o Hanuere. Heoi, e ai ki ngā ture o Aotearoa, ki te kore te rā 29 e taka ki te Rāhina, ka nuku te rā whakatā ki te Rāhina e tata ana. I te tau 2026, ko te 29 o Hanuere he Rāapa, nō reira ka whakanuia te rā whakatā i te Rāhina, te 26 o Hanuere, kia whai wā ai ngā tāngata ki tētahi wiki roa (long weekend). He tikanga tēnei e kīia ana ko te "Mondayisation", kia mōhio ai te marea ka whai rā okioki tonu rātou i te timatanga o te wiki.
Te Hītori me te Takenga mai o te Rā
He hohonu te hītori o tēnei rā, ā, he maha ngā paparanga ki te kōrero mō te pūtakenga mai o te whakanui i te marama o Hanuere.
Te Taenga mai o William Hobson
Ko te take tūturu e whakanuia ana te 29 o Hanuere, ko te taenga mai o te Kāwana Tuarua, a William Hobson, ki te Pēwhairangi (Bay of Islands) i te tau 1840. Ko tēnei tētahi o ngā takahanga tuatahi ki te whakatū i te mana o Ingarangi ki Aotearoa, i mua tata atu i te hainatanga o te Tiriti o Waitangi i te 6 o Pepuere 1840. I te 30 o Hanuere 1840, i panuitia e Hobson āna kōrero ki te iwi i te whare karakia o Kororāreka, ā, i whakaarahia te haki o te Union Jack. Nā konei i tīmata ai te titiro ki te mutunga o Hanuere hei wā whakahirahira mō te koroni hou.Te Whakatūnga o Tāmaki Makaurau
Heoi, he mea nui kia mōhio ehara i te mea i whakatūria te tāone o Tāmaki Makaurau i tēnei rā tonu. I whakatūria te tāone i te 18 o Mahuru 1840, i muri i te hokonga o te 3,000 eka whenua e ngā rangatira o Ngāti Whātua ki a Hobson. Ko Ngāti Whātua te iwi kāinga, ā, nā rātou i pōhiri a Hobson kia haere mai ki te Waitematā mō te mahi tauhokohoko me te manaaki. I noho a Tāmaki Makaurau hei pūtake mō te kawanatanga tae noa ki te tau 1865, i te nukunga o te tāone matua ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington).Te Tohenga a Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
I ngā tau tata nei, kua piki te kōrero mō te rā tūturu hei whakanui i te tāone. E ai ki a Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, ko te rā 18 o Mahuru te rā tūturu mō te huritau o te tāone, i te mea koinei te rā i hainatia ai te whakaaetanga whenua, ā, i tīmata ai te hanganga o te tāone. E whakanui ana rātou i te manaakitanga o te iwi Māori ki ngā iwi hou i haere mai. Ahakoa tēnei mōhiotanga, kua mau tonu te rā o Hanuere hei rā whakatā nā te mea kua noho hei tikanga mai i te tau 1842, ā, he pai ake te rā whakatā i te wā o te raumati.Te Regatta o Tāmaki Makaurau: Te Ngākau o te Rā
Ko te huihuinga matua o te rā ko te Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta. I tīmata tēnei i te tau 1840 hei rā whakataetae i waenga i ngā kaipuke rerekē i te Waitematā. I taua wā, he whakataetae i waenga i ngā waka Māori, ngā kaipuke tohorā, me ngā kaipuke tauhokohoko.
I ēnei rā, koinei te regatta nui rawa atu mō te rā kotahi i te ao katoa. He mea whakamiharo te mātakitaki i te whānuitanga o ngā waka:
- Waka Māori: He wāhanga nui te waka taua me te waka ama hei whakaatu i ngā tikanga whakatere waka a te Māori.
- Ngā Kaipuke Tawhito (Classic Yachts): He maha ngā kaipuke rākau tawhito e tiakina paitia ana, e whakaatu ana i te matatau o ngā kaihanga kaipuke o mua.
- Ngā Motopoti me ngā Waka Hī Ika: He whakataetae tere hoki mō ngā kaipuke whai miihini.
- Ngā Rātū Hou: Ko ngā rā hou e whakamahi ana i ngā hangarau hou mō te tere.
Ngā Tikanga me te Whakanui a te Hapori
I tua atu i te moana, he maha ngā huarahi e whakanui ai te hunga kāinga i te wiki roa o te Rā Whakamaharatanga:
Huihuinga i te Tātahi: I te mea ko te mutunga o Hanuere te wā tino mahana o te tau, ka kapi ngā takutai pēnei i Mission Bay, Piha, me Takapuna i te tangata. Ko te rorerore (BBQ) te kai matua, me te kauhoe i te moana. Auckland Seeport Festival: He huihuinga tēnei i te whanga e whakaatu ana i ngā mahi a te tauranga kaipuke. He waiata rongo nui, he kai reka, ā, i te pō o te Rātapu, he whakaaturanga pahū (fireworks) i runga i te moana. Ngā Hīkoi me te Taiao: He maha ngā whānau e whakamahi ana i te rā whakatā ki te piki i ngā maunga puia o Tāmaki, pēnei i Maungawhau (Mount Eden) rānei, ki te toro rānei i te motu o Rangitoto. Whakataetae Hākinakina: He wā tēnei mō ngā whakataetae tēnehi, kirikiti, me te korowha puta noa i te rohe.
Ngā Takiwā e Whakanui ana i tēnei Rā
Ahakoa te ingoa "Auckland Anniversary Day", ehara i te mea mō te tāone o Tāmaki Makaurau anake tēnei rā whakatā. E ai ki ngā ture ā-rohe o mua, ka whakanuia tēnei rā i ngā rohe katoa i raro i te kawanatanga o Tāmaki i te tau 1840. Koia tēnei:
Te Tai Tokerau (Northland): Mai i te Reinga ki Kaipara. Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland): Te tāone nui me ōna taha katoa. Waikato: Tae noa ki ngā rohe pēnei i Hamilton me Taupō (ahakoa he rerekē ngā rohe whakahaere inaianei, kei te mau tonu te rā whakatā). Bay of Plenty: Tauranga, Rotorua, me Whakatāne. Gisborne (Te Tai Rāwhiti): Ko tētahi wāhanga o tēnei rohe. Taranaki: He mea whakamiharo tēnei, engari ko te taha raki o Taranaki e whai ana i tēnei rā whakatā, ahakoa he Rā Whakamaharatanga anō tō Taranaki i te marama o Maehe.
He mea nui kia mōhio ngā kaimahi mehemea kei roto tō rātou wāhi mahi i ēnei rohe, i te mea he rā whakatā whai utu tēnei mō te hunga e mahi ana i reira.
Ngā Kōrero mō te hunga Kaiwhakahaere me ngā Manuhiri
Mēnā kei te toro koe ki Tāmaki Makaurau i te wā o te Rā Whakamaharatanga i te tau 2026, Anei ētahi tohutohu whaihua:
- Te Waka Tūmatanui: Ka rerekē te tohatoha o ngā pahi me ngā tereina. He maha ngā wā ka rere ngā waka i runga i te mahere "Sunday Timetable". Kia tūpato ki ngā waka kōpaka (ferries), i te mea ka tino pukumahi rātou i te rā o te regatta. Whakamahia he kāri AT HOP kia māmā ai te utu.
- Ngā Toa me te Kai: Ka tuwhera tonu ngā hokomaha (supermarkets) me ngā toa nui, engari he maha ngā toa iti me ngā tari ka kati. Ko ngā whare kai i te taha o te moana (Viaduct me Wynyard Quarter) ka tino kapi i te tangata, nō reira he mea pai kia tono tēpu i mua (book ahead).
- Huarere: He kaha te rā ki Aotearoa. Kia mahara ki te mau pōtae, te pania i te kirīmi tiaki rā (sunscreen), me te inu wai i ngā wā katoa. Ko te pāmahana i te mutunga o Hanuere kei waenga i te 20°C me te 26°C, engari ka rerekē te āhuatanga o te rangi i roto i te rā kotahi.
- Te Mana o te Whenua: Kia whai whakaaro ki te hītori Māori o te rohe. He wā pai tēnei ki te toro atu ki te Auckland Museum (Te Paerangi) i Pukekawa ki te ako mō te hītori o Ngāti Whātua me te hanganga o te tāone.
- Rātū me te Inu: Kia mōhio he aukati waipiro (alcohol bans) kei te maha o ngā tātahi me ngā pāka tūmatanui kia noho haumaru ai te katoa.
He Rā Whakatā ā-Ture (Public Holiday)
Ko te Rā Whakamaharatanga o Tāmaki Makaurau he rā whakatā ā-ture. Ko te tikanga o tēnei: He rā whakatā whai utu mō ngā kaimahi e mahi ana i te rohe e hāngai ana. Ki te mahi tētahi kaimahi i tēnei rā, me utu ia ki te "time and a half" (kotahi me te hāwhe o te utu tūturu), ā, ka whiwhi ia i tētahi rā whakatā whakakapi (alternative holiday/day in lieu). Ko ngā kura, ngā pēke, me ngā tari kāwanatanga katoa ka kati i tēnei rā.
I te tau 2026, i te mea ka tū te whakanui i te January 26, 2026, koinei te mutunga o te wiki roa tuatahi o te tau i muri i ngā whakanui o te Tau Hou. He wā pai tēnei mō ngā whānau ki te haere ki te puni (camping) i mua i te hokinga o ngā tamariki ki te kura i te timatanga o te marama o Pepuere.
Te Whakarāpopototanga
Ko te Rā Whakamaharatanga o Tāmaki Makaurau he tohu mō te tipu o te rohe mai i tētahi kainga iti i te taha o te moana ki te tāone nui rawa atu o Aotearoa. Ahakoa ngā tautohetohe mō te rā tūturu me te hītori o te koroni, kua waiho tēnei rā hei wā whakahirahira mō te hapori katoa. He rā mō te whakataa, mō te mātakitaki i te ataahua o te moana, me te whakanui i te wairua o te "City of Sails".
Ahakoa he tangata noho koe i Tāmaki, he manuhiri rānei i te tau 2026, ko te Rāhina, te January 26, 2026, tētahi rā hei paiingia. Whakaritea ō hū hīkoi, ō kāri rā rānei, ā, haere ki te mātakitaki i ngā rā e tere ana i runga i te moana puru o te Waitematā. He rā tēnei e whakaatu ana i te pai o te noho ki tēnei taha o te ao—te hononga o te tangata, te whenua, me te moana.
Hāunga te hītori me te taha ture, ko te tino pūtake o tēnei rā ko te hanga mahara hou me te whānau me ngā hoa. I te mea e 23 noa iho ngā rā e toe ana, kua tata te wā ki te whakanui i te rā whakatā tino pai o te raumati i te raki o Aotearoa. Kia pai tō rā whakatā!
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Auckland Anniversary Day in New Zealand
Auckland Anniversary Day will be observed on Monday, January 26, 2026. There are 23 days remaining until the celebration. While the historical date is January 29, the holiday is 'Mondayised' to ensure a long weekend for residents, falling on the Monday closest to the actual anniversary.
Yes, it is a regional public holiday. It applies to the Auckland and Northland regions, as well as some other northern parts of the North Island like Taranaki. On this day, schools, banks, and most government offices are closed. While many businesses shut down, some supermarkets and hospitality venues remain open with limited hours, often applying a public holiday surcharge.
The holiday commemorates the arrival of Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson in the Bay of Islands on January 29, 1840. This event marked an early step toward British sovereignty and the eventual signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Although Auckland was officially founded later in September 1840 following a land glass purchase from Ngāti Whātua, the January date became the established tradition for the anniversary celebrations after being gazetted in 1842.
As the 'City of Sails,' Auckland focuses its celebrations on the water. The main event is the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, which is one of the oldest sporting events in New Zealand. The Waitematā Harbour comes alive with races featuring vintage tugboats, modern yachts, waka (Māori canoes), and dragon boats. Families often take advantage of the warm summer weather to head to the beach, host barbecues, or enjoy picnics in local parks.
For those wanting to see the maritime action, the Viaduct Harbour and Princes Wharf offer excellent views of the boats. North Head in Devonport is another premier vantage point for watching the regatta races and any aerial displays. The atmosphere is generally relaxed and festive, with many people choosing to spend the day outdoors enjoying the sunshine and coastal scenery.
Yes, there is an ongoing discussion regarding the true founding date of Auckland. While the holiday is held in January to mark Hobson's arrival in New Zealand, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei advocates for recognizing September 18 as the city's true birthday. This was the day in 1840 when Māori leaders sold land to the Crown to establish the township, and many believe this date better reflects the partnership and manaakitanga (hospitality) offered by Māori to the early settlers.
Visitors should be aware that public transport operates on a holiday timetable, and ferries can become very crowded due to the regatta and people traveling to islands like Waiheke. It is recommended to use an AT HOP card for easier travel. If you are planning to drive to popular beaches, expect heavy traffic and limited parking. Additionally, some beaches have strict alcohol bans in place during public holidays to ensure a family-friendly environment.
The holiday falls in late January, which is the height of the New Zealand summer. Temperatures usually range between 20°C and 25°C. While it is typically sunny and warm, Auckland weather can be variable, so it is wise to pack high-SPF sunscreen and a hat to protect against the strong Southern Hemisphere sun, as well as a light jacket in case of a sudden coastal breeze or afternoon shower.
Historical Dates
Auckland Anniversary Day dates in New Zealand from 2010 to 2025
| Year | Day of Week | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Monday | January 27, 2025 |
| 2024 | Monday | January 29, 2024 |
| 2023 | Monday | January 30, 2023 |
| 2022 | Monday | January 31, 2022 |
| 2021 | Monday | February 1, 2021 |
| 2020 | Monday | January 27, 2020 |
| 2019 | Monday | January 28, 2019 |
| 2018 | Monday | January 29, 2018 |
| 2017 | Monday | January 30, 2017 |
| 2016 | Monday | February 1, 2016 |
| 2015 | Monday | January 26, 2015 |
| 2014 | Monday | January 27, 2014 |
| 2013 | Monday | January 28, 2013 |
| 2012 | Monday | January 30, 2012 |
| 2011 | Monday | January 31, 2011 |
| 2010 | Monday | February 1, 2010 |
Note: Holiday dates may vary. Some holidays follow lunar calendars or have different observance dates. Purple indicates weekends.
About New Zealand
- Country Code
- NZ
- Continent
- Oceania
- Total Holidays
- 19