List of unofficial observances in New Zealand

Apart from the public holidays in New Zealand, usually celebrated by a paid day off work, there are a number of unofficial observances in New Zealand that are celebrated for days, weeks or months. Most of these are international in nature. They range from established traditions of major world religions to spoofs such as Talk Like A Pirate Day.

Days

Weeks

Many of these national weeks change from year to year.

• Sea Week, 27 Feb – 6 March
• Multiples Awareness Week, 28 Feb – 6 March
• Global Public Health Week, 3–7 April 2023
• Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Week, from 1 May
• Rotuman Language Week, 7–13 May
• New Zealand Sign Language Week, from 2 May
• National Organic Week – 1–7 May
• Youth Week, 21–29 May
• Samoan Language Week, 30 May – 5 June
• Coeliac Awareness Week, 18–24 June
• NZ Volunteering Week 19–25 June 2016
• Kiribati Language Week, 9–15 July
• Cook Islands Language Week, 30 July – 5 August
• Rail Safety Week, August
• New Zealand Islam Awareness, from 2 August
• New Zealand Fashion Week 29 August – 2 September
• Tongan language Week, 3–9 September
• Child Safeguarding Week, 7–13 September 2026
• Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week), in the week which includes 14 September.
• New Zealand Conservation Week, 10–18 September
• National Clean Up Week 17–24 September
• Mental Health Awareness Week, late September
• New Zealand Chinese Language Week, typically the third or fourth week of September
• Tuvalu Language Week, 1–7 October
• Fijian Language Week, 8–14 October
• Niue Language Week, 15–21 October
• Tokelau Language Week, 22–28 October
• Grandparents Week from 27 October – 1 November
• Get Outdoors Week 16–24 November
• Fraud Awareness Week, third week of November
• Sleep Awareness Week
• Cloth Nappy Week April
• Rail Safety Week
• NZ Flowers Week

Months

• Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month 1–28 February
• New Zealand Bike to Work month – February
• Pride Month – February (Auckland), March (Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin)
• Endometriosis Awareness Month – March
• Brain Injury Awareness Month – March
• Sexual Assault Awareness Month – April
• NZ Music Month – May
• Migraine Awareness Month – June
• NZ Book Month September from 2006 to 2008, October in 2009, March from 2011 to 2013 and August in 2014; not held in 2015
• Sorted Money Month – August
• Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month 1–30 September
• Movember Month – November

References