Easter in New Zealand
Let this post be the reminder you need to put a message in your calendar for next Easter that New Zealand shuts down this time of year. (Good Friday is on April 15, 2022, and Easter Sunday is April 17, 2022. You’ll thank me next April.) I was completely taken by surprise by the store closures this weekend. Last year we were in lockdown over Easter, and very honestly I have next to no memories of the Easter before that. I think I’ve blocked out a lot of the first year in New Zealand because it was so stressful. So I thought it might be useful to go through what to expect this time of year so you can plan accordingly:
Schools close - and not just on Good Friday like in the US. We’re off Friday through Tuesday and I know some schools are off even through Wednesday. To make matters even more fun, unlike during other school holidays, there aren’t day programs to keep your kids occupied.
Stores close - I mean nearly ALL of the stores close. (There are a few exceptions which can be found here.) Even the grocery stores are closed on Friday and Sunday. Don’t do what I did and put off the usual Thursday grocery trip thinking you’ll go on Friday with the kids because they love going to the grocery store but rarely get to anymore because of school. Also, don’t be fooled by all of the advertising for the Easter sales and think you’ll be able to stop by on Friday or Sunday to get a good deal. You won’t. They’re closed. In fact, they will be fined up to $1,000 if they open. Many of the bigger stores will be open on Saturday and Monday, but many of the smaller stores will be closed for the whole long weekend.
Side note: there are three and half restricted shop trading days a year when most shops have to be closed. Those are:
Christmas Day (a public holiday)
Good Friday (a public holiday)
Easter Sunday (not a public holiday) There is also a “Mondayisation” of Easter so the following Monday becomes a public holiday.
ANZAC Day, until 1.00 pm on 25 April (a public holiday)
Some restaurants open. Takeaway spots and some restaurants will be open all through the holiday weekend, but be prepared to pay a 15% surcharge on whatever you order. Many restaurants - especially smaller establishments - will be closed for the whole weekend so double check before committing to a location.
Many, many people plan trips during the holiday weekend. This is a prime time to go for a final camping or boating trip before the weather turns cold. There were reports that accommodations in some parts of the country were at 100% capacity because Kiwis love to travel and have been cooped up for a long time. If you do want to go on a trip, try to plan ahead of time. Make sure you book your hotel/AirBnb/campsite well in advance because popular spots will be spoken for weeks or even months ahead of time. Also leave plenty of travel time as the traffic is horrible and people aren’t driving their best. There are seven road fatalities and counting this year.
There are also different traditions surrounding Easter in New Zealand as opposed to Easter in the United States. Yes, there are some community Easter egg hunts, but they aren’t nearly as prolific as they are in the US. I think most parents do a small egg hunt for their kids at home, but I don’t see much in the way of big Easter baskets with toys. You also won’t find Easter bunnies at the mall for photos. Easter egg dying isn’t really a thing here so you won’t find dye kits at the store, though it’s pretty easy to make your own with water, vinegar, and food coloring - assuming you can find white eggs to dye.
But hot cross buns are everywhere. It’s like the whole world decides to start baking hot cross buns and different variations of hot cross buns in mid-March, and they just don’t stop until Easter. We are hot crossed bun-ed out at this point. Giving chocolate eggs and bunnies is the norm, so you’ll see the grocery stores pack the shelves with everything from small, hide-able chocolate eggs to huge monstrosities that are larger than a head. You won’t, however, see any Peeps. I’m not a Peep fan, so I’m fine with this arrangement, though I know there may be some people who don’t think it is Easter without them.
Easter is another example of how things are a little bit different in New Zealand. If you’re not used to it or prepared, it can make for a strange, long break, but if you’ve got a plan, there are a lot of ways to make the most of this time off.
