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Public Holiday: Matariki 2026

Friday 10th July is the observed date for celebrating Matariki. The predawn rising of Matariki, also known as the Pleiades, marks the beginning of the Maori New Year. Let's prepare your payroll:

Updated: August 2025

In this article

When is Matariki public holiday observed this year?

The actual date for Matariki public holiday varies, but it is observed on Friday 10th July in 2026. 

Do I need to make changes to my payroll? 

Matariki Friday can be a pay day, however Saturday 11th July is not an available pay day in our system. Additionally, depending on your plan, your pay day and your payment method, you may need to adjust your pay to ensure it arrives on time. 

Use the table below to find out if you need to make any changes to your payroll:

Log in to Thankyou Payroll

Info - Blue Block (1)Please note: Our urgent same-day service is not available on Matariki Friday.

Employer obligations

Some of your employees might work on Matariki public holiday, or take their regular work day as a paid day off. This will impact how you enter their timesheets. Find out how to enter public holidays on employee timesheets.

If your employee works on a public holiday, you are required to pay them ‘time and a half’ or 1.5 times their standard rate for hours worked this day. If the public holiday is an otherwise working day for this employee, you’ll also need to allocate a full day of alternative leave to their leave balance.

Did You Know - Green Block (1)Did you know: For more information on public holidays and your obligations as an employer, check out our Public Holidays Guide or visit the Employment New Zealand website.

Feeling stuck?

Our friendly payroll experts are just an email or a phone call away. Thankyou Payroll will be closed on Matariki Friday. Our hours around the public holiday are as follows:

  • Thursday 9th July - 9:00 am to 4 pm
  • Friday 10th July - Matariki - CLOSED
  • Monday 13th July - 8:00 am to 4 pm.

Email us at help@thankyoupayroll.co.nz, or call us on 04 488 7531 for professional, one-on-one guidance.

Making payroll easy. Supporting you.