Anzac Day, observed each year on April 25, falls on a Saturday in 2026, which changes how the public holiday is experienced. Although the official date remains Saturday, a substitute public holiday will be observed on Monday.
Most stores have to stay closed until 1pm on Saturday. On top of that, businesses also need to figure out how to handle staff pay, whether it applies to Saturday or shifts to Monday.
According to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), if a public holiday falls on a weekend, it can be shifted to the following Monday for some workers—this is known as “Mondayisation.”
This year, the 25th falls on a Saturday, so the public holiday is “Mondayised” and officially observed on Monday, April 27.
MBIE says permanent employees are entitled to be paid for a public holiday if it falls on a day they’d normally work. If the holiday lands on a Saturday, what workers are entitled to depends on their usual schedule, specifically, whether they typically work Saturdays or Mondays.
If an employee usually works Monday to Friday, the public holiday is “Mondayised,” meaning their public holiday entitlements shift to the following Monday instead of the actual date of the holiday.
If an employee works on the actual calendar date of the public holiday, their public holiday entitlements apply to that day. In this case, Saturday.
If an employee works on both the actual public holiday date and the Mondayised day, their entitlement still only applies once, on the calendar date. They don’t receive double public holiday benefits.
For employees who do not have a clear work pattern or whose hours vary a lot, MBIE said, “They will need to agree with their employer if a public holiday is a day they would otherwise be working.”
Shop trading rules
Mondayisation doesn’t change shop trading rules. The restrictions still apply on the original calendar date of the public holiday. Shops don’t need to close again on Monday.
Anzac Day is a restricted trading day, so all supermarkets, department stores, and shopping malls are required to stay closed until 1pm this Saturday. Meanwhile, some hospitality businesses like cafés, restaurants, bars, and takeaways are allowed to open before 1pm despite the restrictions. However, many still choose to stay closed in the morning to give staff the day off or simply open later in the day instead.
Applying Surcharges
Venues are also allowed to apply a surcharge if they open on the morning of Anzac Day, helping cover the higher cost of paying staff public holiday rates.
The size of the surcharge can differ from business to business, but the Commerce Commission says it must be clearly displayed so customers know about it before they decide to dine in.
Officials also note that businesses may apply a public holiday surcharge on both the Saturday and the Monday if they incur extra costs on each day, but it must always be clearly explained and not mislead customers.