Canterbury Anniversary Day is observed each year on the second Friday after the first Tuesday in November in the Canterbury region of New Zealand.

What this means in practice

  • The holiday is tied to Christchurch “Show Day,” which was aligned to that specific Friday pattern in November.
  • Upcoming example dates include 14 November 2025 and 13 November 2026, both Fridays.

Quick historical context

  • The day originally marked the founding of the Canterbury province and the arrival of the first organized European settlers in December 1850.
  • Over time, the public holiday moved from mid‑December to its current November timing to coincide with the Canterbury A&P Show in Christchurch.

How to work out the date

To find Canterbury Anniversary Day for any year:

  1. Identify the first Tuesday in November for that year.
  2. Count forward to the second Friday after that Tuesday (not the first Friday).
  3. That Friday is Canterbury Anniversary Day for most of the Canterbury region.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.