📅 holiday

Southland Anniversary Day

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

— days to go

In Southland Region, the most southerly of all New Zealand’s regions, Southland Anniversary Day is a public holiday and off-work day that comes on the Tuesday after Easter. The date was chosen to approximate the 1 April date in 1861 when the Province of Southland was formally separated from the Province of Otago. Thus, it looks back to a “provincial birthday” rather than to a founding or settling date as such. “Easter Tuesday” was chosen because it creates a five-day weekend running from the Saturday before Easter through Easter Monday and up to Tuesday. Southland Anniversary Day has only been observed, however, since 2011. Like in other regions of New Zealand, there are fairs, historically and culturally educational events, food stalls, concerts, and a host of activities in various towns within the region for Southland’s Anniversary Day.

History

Southland Anniversary Day has only been observed, however, since 2011. Like in other regions of New Zealand, there are fairs, historically and culturally educational events, food stalls, concerts, and a host of activities in various towns within the region for Southland’s Anniversary Day

How It's Celebrated

In Southland Region, the most southerly of all New Zealand’s regions, Southland Anniversary Day is a public holiday and off-work day that comes on the Tuesday after Easter. Southland Anniversary Day has only been observed, however, since 2011. Like in other regions of New Zealand, there are fairs, h

Other Years

2027 Tue

30 Mar

2028 Tue

18 Apr

2026 Tue

7 Apr

2025 Tue

22 Apr

Countries

🇳🇿 NZ

View all →

🌍 observance Jan 19

Wellington Anniversary

In 1840, Treaty of. Waitangi. The signing of the Treaty of Waitangi marked the beginning of British rule over New Zealand

🌍 observance Jan 20

National Penguin

In 1844, First. Penguin Fossil Discovery. The first ever penguin fossil was discovered in New Zealand, leading to increased scientific interest in penguins

🌍 observance Jan 29

Auckland Anniversary

In 1840, Auckland. Founded. Captain William Hobson, the first Governor of New Zealand, officially proclaimed Auckland a city on September 18th, 1840

📅 holiday Feb 10

Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck

The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is a holiday unique to Malta because it was on Malta that the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked around the year A.D. 60. In 2027, Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck falls on Wednesday 10 February. The holiday will be on Thursday 10 February in 2028. The feast is kept on February 10th each year, and as Paul is the patron saint of Malta, it is a much-anticipated event. Out of dozens of “saint days” on the church calendar in Malta, the Feast of Saint Paul is one of only a handful that have the status of a national holiday. The account of Paul’s shipwreck and three-month, wintertime stay on Malta is found in the Bible’s Acts 27:27 through 28:11. He was being taken to Rome as a prisoner to eventually stand trial before Caesar. God let him know in advance he would be shipwrecked but would spare the lives of all on board, which promise was later kept and in answer to Paul’s prayers for their lives. The Bible says the storm was in the Adriatic Sea, though Malta borders the Ionian Sea, because in ancient times, the Adriatic’s boundaries were considered to extend much farther south. The ship broke up on the rocks near the shores of Malta, and all swam ashore. The local population greeted them, but thought he might be a murderer whom the “goddess of justice” had finally caught up with after he was bitten by a poisonous snake. After he lived, however, they supposed him to be, perhaps, a god. Paul, however, soon showed them it was God’s power at work in a mere man by healing the governor of the island, Publius, and many others who were sick or disabled among the island’s population. No doubt, Paul preached the Gospel to them as well, and when he left Malta, the inhabitants gave him all necessary supplies out of gratitude. The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is kept at the “Parish Church of Saint Paul Shipwrecked” in Malta’s capital city of Valletta. It is also a day of processions and family get-togethers. Three things to do should you visit Malta, though hopefully not be shipwrecked there, on February 10th are: