# Christmas and holiday hours on Google: a 5-minute checklist (NZ)

By Web Smart HQ · Published 2026-10-21

**Short answer:** Set holiday hours in your Google Business Profile under Edit profile, Hours, then Special hours. Your regular hours stay as they are. Use special hours for closures of up to 6 days in a row; for 7 days or more, Google says to mark the business temporarily closed. For summer 2026/27, Christmas is Friday 25 December and New Year's Day is Friday 1 January.

## Key takeaways

- Special hours change single dates. Your regular weekly hours stay untouched.
- Confirm holiday hours even if you're open as normal. It tells customers your hours are current.
- Closing for a week or more? Google says to use "Temporarily closed", and to reopen when you're back.
- Match your website, booking page and Google profile, so customers see one answer.

## Why holiday hours matter on Google

If you don't set holiday hours, Google shows your regular hours, so customers can see "Open" on a day you're shut. Google says its holiday page can show a warning on certain holidays that your hours might differ. Setting special hours in advance removes the guesswork. See Google's help on [holidays on Google](https://support.google.com/business/answer/6333474).

It matters most over summer, when public holidays, regional anniversary days and the Christmas break all land within a few weeks. A café that opens on Boxing Day wants people to know. A plumber who's away until mid January wants fewer wasted calls.

## How to set special hours without changing your regular hours

You set holiday hours as "special hours", which apply only to the dates you choose, so your normal weekly hours stay as they are. Google's guide to [setting special hours](https://support.google.com/business/answer/6303076) lists these steps. Google tweaks the screens now and then, but the path stays much the same.

### Setting special hours

1. **Open your profile**: Go to business.google.com, or search your business name on Google while signed in.
2. **Edit profile, then Hours**: In the "Business hours" section, select the pencil next to "Special hours".
3. **Pick the dates**: Select "Review" to accept a holiday Google suggests, or "Add a date" for your own, such as the days between Christmas and New Year.
4. **Set closed or open hours**: Leave "Closed" ticked for days you're shut. Untick it and enter the hours for days you open shorter or later.
5. **Save**: Select "Save". The dates show under Special hours in your profile.

> **Open as normal? Confirm it anyway.** Google recommends confirming your hours for official holidays even when they match your regular hours. It shows customers your hours are accurate. Special hours only show if your business hours are set to "Open with main hours".

## NZ public holidays and anniversary days, summer 2026/27

These are the national public holidays and regional anniversary days from late October 2026 to early February 2027, as published by [Employment New Zealand](https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/public-holidays/public-holidays-and-anniversary-dates). Check the dates again each year, as they move.

### Holiday dates for summer 2026/27

| Holiday | Where | Date |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hawke's Bay Anniversary Day | Hawke's Bay | Fri 23 Oct 2026 |
| Labour Day | All of NZ | Mon 26 Oct 2026 |
| Marlborough Anniversary Day | Marlborough | Mon 2 Nov 2026 |
| Canterbury Anniversary (Show Day) | North and Central Canterbury | Fri 13 Nov 2026 |
| Chatham Islands Anniversary Day | Chatham Islands | Mon 30 Nov 2026 |
| Westland Anniversary Day | Westland (varies by area) | Mon 30 Nov 2026 |
| Christmas Day | All of NZ | Fri 25 Dec 2026 |
| Boxing Day | All of NZ | Sat 26 Dec 2026, or Mon 28 Dec for staff who don't work Saturdays |
| New Year's Day | All of NZ | Fri 1 Jan 2027 |
| Day after New Year's Day | All of NZ | Sat 2 Jan 2027, or Mon 4 Jan for staff who don't work Saturdays |
| Wellington Anniversary Day | Wellington | Mon 25 Jan 2027 |
| Auckland Anniversary Day | Auckland | Mon 1 Feb 2027 |
| Nelson Anniversary Day | Nelson | Mon 1 Feb 2027 |
| Waitangi Day | All of NZ | Sat 6 Feb 2027, or Mon 8 Feb for staff who don't work Saturdays |

_Source: Employment New Zealand, public holidays and anniversary dates (page updated 25 Sep 2026), checked 21 Oct 2026. Employment NZ notes dates may contain errors and suggests checking with your local council._

When Boxing Day or 2 January falls on a Saturday, Employment NZ says the holiday is observed on the Saturday for staff who would normally work that day, and on the following Monday for those who wouldn't. That rule is about staff pay. For Google, what matters is simple: which days are your doors open?

## Closing for summer: special hours or temporarily closed?

Use special hours if you're closed for up to 6 days in a row. If you're closed for 7 days or more, Google's help on [temporarily closing](https://support.google.com/business/answer/15300196) says to mark the business "Temporarily closed" instead. You'll find it under Edit profile, then Hours: select the pencil next to "Hours" and choose "Temporarily closed".

Google also says temporarily closed businesses can rank below open ones for broad searches. So switch it back the day you reopen. Google's article doesn't mention setting a reopening date, so put a reminder in your calendar.

### Which setting to use

| Your break | Use this |
| --- | --- |
| Closed on the public holidays only | Special hours, one date at a time |
| Shorter hours on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve | Special hours, with the new times |
| Closed for a few days between Christmas and New Year (up to 6 in a row) | Special hours for each day |
| Closed for 2 or 3 weeks over summer | Temporarily closed, then reopen the day you're back |

_Based on Google Business Profile help on special hours and temporary closures, checked 21 Oct 2026._

## Update your website, booking pages and Google posts too

Customers check more than one place, so make your website, booking page and Google profile say the same thing. Add a short holiday notice near the top of your homepage and on your contact page. If you take online bookings, block out the closed days so nobody books a day you're away. An email auto-reply with your return date helps too.

A Google post is a simple way to say it in your own words. In your profile, choose Posts, then Add post, then the "Update" type. Google's [posts help](https://support.google.com/business/answer/7342169) says you can schedule a post ahead, and posts older than 6 months are archived unless a date range is set.

### Holiday post ideas

Keep it short, friendly and specific about dates.

- **Closed for summer**: "We're taking a summer break from Thursday 24 December and back on Monday 11 January. Merry Christmas, and thanks for a great year."
- **Open over the holidays**: "Open over Christmas! Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day only. Holiday hours are on our profile."
- **Emergencies only**: "Our team is on a break until Monday 11 January. For urgent jobs, call the number on our profile."

## Your 5-minute holiday hours checklist

### Before the holidays

- Write down which days you're closed, open shorter, or open as normal.
- Add special hours on Google for every public holiday and anniversary day in your region.
- Closed 7 days or more? Mark the profile temporarily closed instead, and diary the reopening day.
- Add a holiday notice to your website's homepage and contact page.
- Block out closed days in your booking system.
- Post a Google update with your dates.
- Set an email auto-reply with your return date.
- On your first day back: reopen the profile, remove the notice and check your hours.

## Where Web Smart HQ fits

You can do all of this yourself with the steps above. If we built your website, Google Business Profile setup was part of it, and small updates are included for the first year, so holiday hours are one email away. Send us your dates and we'll update your website and Google profile to match.

After year one, our Sorted + Google and Sorted + Growth care plans look after your Google profile hours, holiday hours, photos and posts. See our [Google Business Profile service](https://websmarthq.com/google-business-profile/) or [support and care plans](https://websmarthq.com/website-support/).

## Questions

### How do I set holiday hours on Google?

Open your Business Profile, choose Edit profile, then Hours. Next to "Special hours", select the pencil. Accept a holiday Google suggests or add your own date. Leave "Closed" ticked if you're shut, or untick it and enter your hours. Then save. Your regular weekly hours don't change. Special hours only show if your hours are set to "Open with main hours".

### Will special hours change my normal opening hours?

No. Special hours apply only to the dates you add. Your regular weekly hours stay the same and take over again once those dates pass. That's why special hours suit public holidays and short breaks. You don't need to remember to change anything back, unless you used "Temporarily closed" for a longer break.

### Should I mark my business temporarily closed over Christmas?

Only if you're closed for 7 days or more. Google says to use special hours for closures of up to 6 days in a row, and "Temporarily closed" for longer ones. Google also says temporarily closed businesses can rank below open ones for broad searches, so reopen the profile the day you're back. Put a reminder in your calendar.

### When is Boxing Day observed in 2026?

Boxing Day 2026 falls on Saturday 26 December. Employment New Zealand says it's observed on the Saturday for staff who would normally work that day, and on Monday 28 December for those who wouldn't. The same rule applies to 2 January 2027, a Saturday, with Monday 4 January as the observed day. For Google, set the hours your doors are actually open.

### Do I need to set hours for regional anniversary days?

Yes, if your region has one and your hours change. Anniversary days differ by region: Auckland's is Monday 1 February 2027 and Wellington's is Monday 25 January 2027. If Google doesn't suggest your regional day, add it as a custom date. If you're open as normal, confirming your hours still helps customers trust them.

### How far ahead should I set Christmas hours?

As soon as you know them. Many people check hours before heading out, and Google lets you set special hours well in advance. Setting them in late November or early December gives customers time to plan. You can schedule a Google post ahead too, and update everything again if your plans change.

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Source: https://websmarthq.com/guides/google-holiday-hours/
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