King’s Birthday in Aotearoa: What’s Open, Who’s Honoured, and Should We Still Be Celebrating It?

Here’s your no-nonsense guide to what the King’s Birthday holiday is all about in New Zealand.

Happy Birthday, King Charles?

Wait a minute – isn’t His Majesty’s birthday actually in November?

Yep, it sure is. King Charles III was born on 14 November, but we celebrate it on the first Monday of June. Why? Because, believe it or not, it all comes down to the weather.

This tradition goes back to 1748, when King George II decided it was too cold in November for a good old military parade. So he combined his birthday bash with the annual summer Trooping the Colour ceremony. It stuck. And now the monarch gets two birthdays – a real one, and a fancy one with soldiers and horses.

New Zealand, being part of the Commonwealth, just goes with the flow and keeps the public holiday in June. And hey, who’s complaining about a long weekend?

What’s Open and What’s Not?

Good news – most things will be open! Unlike Easter, Anzac morning or Christmas, there are no trading restrictions on King’s Birthday. So cafes, shops, supermarkets, and restaurants are mostly business as usual.

That said, it’s always smart to check ahead, especially with smaller or locally run places.

Is My Flat White Gonna Cost More?

Probably. Many businesses add a 15% surcharge on public holidays – they’re legally allowed to, as long as it’s clearly communicated. That’s because they have to pay their staff time-and-a-half and give them a paid day off in return.

So yes, your brunch might cost a bit more – but hey, at least someone else is doing the dishes.

Do I Have to Work on Monday?

If you’re an employee and it’s a normal working day for you, then it’s a public holiday, and the usual rules apply:

• Time-and-a-half pay

• A paid day off (or a day in lieu)

If you’re a contractor or self-employed, sadly, no such perks. Just another Monday for you.

What’s This Holiday Actually Celebrating?

Besides being a day off, King’s Birthday Honours are announced – a list of Kiwis being recognised for their mahi in all sorts of fields: sports, community work, science, arts, business, and beyond.

These awards are a pretty big deal and a proud moment for many whānau across the country.

How Do You Get One of Those Honours?

Short answer: anyone can nominate someone – as long as you’re not nominating yourself (which is awkward and not allowed).

Each year, the Honours Unit at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet receives around 800 to 1000 nominations. They put together bios, gather support letters, and hand the list to a Cabinet committee for review.

The Prime Minister then makes the final recommendations to the King. Recipients are contacted (some quietly turn it down), and finally the King gives it the royal tick.

It’s all very hush-hush and carefully considered. If you know someone amazing – start writing that nomination!

Should We Still Be Celebrating This Holiday in 2025?

This one’s up for debate. Some Kiwis love it – it’s tradition, after all. The monarchy still plays a constitutional role in NZ, and supporters say it’s a stable, non-political head of state that represents everyone.

Others reckon it’s time to move on. Groups like New Zealand Republic argue that the holiday is outdated – calling it “an empty public holiday that celebrates nothing in particular.”

They’d rather we replace it with something that reflects our own identity, like:

• Citizenship Day (6 Sept – marking when we became official citizens in 1948), or

• Suffrage Day (19 Sept – when Kiwi women won the vote in 1893)

And of course, we now have Matariki, a meaningful public holiday unique to Aotearoa.

So, What’s the Verdict?

Whether you’re a royalist, a republican, or just here for the long weekend – King’s Birthday is still a part of Kiwi life (for now).

So enjoy the break, grab a cheeky lamington or two, and spare a thought for the locals getting a medal from the King. You might even know one.

Happy King’s Birthday, Aotearoa – even if it’s not really his birthday.