Planning NZ trip Christmas 2011, confused about when things closed? (sales, shops)

[88txaggie]

Greetings! Extended family planning trip to NZ from Texas over Christmas/New Years 2011. We are getting confused about when things are closed for the holidays. Christmas and New Year's Day are on Sunday. The info I can find says things are closed either Sunday 25th, or Tuesday 27th, and again either Sunday 1st or Tuesday 3rd.

So questions - is Boxing Day a holiday where things are normally closed? Would that mean that the 26th and 27th everything will be closed? And what about New Years?

[Kobber]

Originally Posted by 88txaggie

Greetings! Extended family planning trip to NZ from Texas over Christmas/New Years 2011. We are getting confused about when things are closed for the holidays. Christmas and New Year's Day are on Sunday. The info I can find says things are closed either Sunday 25th, or Tuesday 27th, and again either Sunday 1st or Tuesday 3rd.

So questions - is Boxing Day a holiday where things are normally closed? Would that mean that the 26th and 27th everything will be closed? And what about New Years?

I'm in Australia, but think it's much the same in NZ as it is here. Sunday 25th and Monday 26th will be public holidays, as will Tuesday 27th (otherwise people who don't normally work Sundays would be short-changed)! Same with New Year. Since New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, a weekday has to be granted as a 'make-up' public holiday. I'm not sure why they chose Tuesday rather than the Monday.

As far as what's open, it will prove difficult to find anything open on Christmas Day, but on the other days - provided you're in a city/town of reasonable size, many shops (especially the big ones) will most likely be open (but might be very busy as it's often when the summer sales start), as will most tourist-type attractions.

Where do you expect to be on those days?

[88txaggie]

Thanks for the reply, Kobber! -

Well, we have the outside dates of travel but haven't firmed up where we are going within New Zealand and when - part of where we will be Christmas and New Years depends on what stuff is open.

[tuberose]

Hello 88txaggie,
On Christmas Day - nothing open except gas stations and the odd convenience store (we call them dairies here). On boxing day many businesses open. There are a lot of sales on this day.
New Years Day - a few more businesses are open but really not much.
Best wishes for your trip

[muir33]

Agree with tuberose. Monday 26th and Tues 27th, Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd are all public holidays but most retail shops will be open on the Monday and Tuesdays in all major cities, especially the malls. Boxing Day is renowned over here for the sales.
Smaller towns will be a little more variable, ie some of the larger department stores will be open, but the owner operator stores may be closed.
Almost nothing will be open on Sunday Christmas Day except for service stations and convenience stores. There will be a few more stores open Sunday New Years Day but dont count on anything open in smaller towns unless its a large retail chain.
Many smaller businesses will be closed between Christmas and New Year holidays, but if you are in one of the major cities, or in a tourist area (such as Queenstown) you'll find most of the retailing open.