New Zealand awareness days and key dates

Thursday 1 October 2026

• World of WearableArt Awards Show

  Religious and cultural17 September to 4 October 2026

  Wellington's wearable art competition and stage show, held over about three weeks each September and October; the 2027 season runs 16 September to 3 October.

• Sukkot

  Religious and cultural26 September to 2 October 2026

  Sukkot is a seven-day Jewish harvest festival in autumn, when families eat in temporary outdoor huts.

• Tuvalu Language Week

  Religious and cultural27 September to 3 October 2026

  A New Zealand week in late September for the Tuvaluan language, one of the Pacific Language Weeks. In 2026 it ran 27 September to 3 October.

• International Coffee Day

  Awareness

  International Coffee Day on 1 October celebrates coffee and calls for a fairer and more sustainable coffee sector for growers.

• International Day of Older Persons

  Awareness

  The International Day of Older Persons on 1 October celebrates older people's contributions and looks at the challenges of an ageing world.

• World Vegetarian Day

  Awareness

  Held on 1 October each year to promote the benefits of a vegetarian diet, and opens Vegetarian Awareness Month.

Friday 2 October 2026

• International Day of Non-Violence

  Awareness

  The International Day of Non-Violence on 2 October, Gandhi's birthday, promotes non-violence through education and public awareness.

Sunday 4 October 2026

• Fijian Language Week

  Religious and cultural4 to 10 October 2026

  A New Zealand week in early October for the Fijian language, one of the Pacific Language Weeks. In 2026 it ran 4 to 10 October.

• Simchat Torah

  Religious and cultural

  Simchat Torah is the Jewish festival celebrating the end and restart of the yearly Torah reading cycle, with dancing in synagogues.

• World Animal Day

  Awareness

  An international day on 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, to raise the status of animals and improve welfare standards.

• World Space Week

  Awareness4 to 10 October 2026

  World Space Week, 4 to 10 October, celebrates the benefits of space science and technology and inspires students to explore it.

Monday 5 October 2026

• Cyber Smart Week (Wiki Haumaru ā-Ipurangi)

  Awareness5 to 11 October 2026

  Cyber Smart Week is New Zealand's October campaign helping people and businesses take simple steps to stay secure online.

• World Architecture Day

  Awareness

  World Architecture Day falls on the first Monday in October and focuses attention on architecture and the built environment, on 5 October in 2026.

• World Habitat Day

  Awareness

  World Habitat Day, on the first Monday of October, looks at the state of towns and cities and everyone's right to adequate shelter.

• World Investor Week

  Awareness5 to 11 October 2026

  A global campaign week in early October promoting investor education and protection, including warnings about scams.

• World Meningitis Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 5 October each year to raise awareness of meningitis, its warning signs and the goal of defeating it by 2030.

• World Teachers' Day

  Awareness

  World Teachers' Day on 5 October celebrates teachers and looks at the support they need to do their jobs well.

Tuesday 6 October 2026

• International Geodiversity Day

  Awareness

  A UNESCO day on 6 October that celebrates the variety of rocks, minerals, landscapes and natural processes that shape the planet.

• World Cerebral Palsy Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 6 October to recognise and act for the millions of people living with cerebral palsy.

Wednesday 7 October 2026

• World Cotton Day

  Awareness

  World Cotton Day on 7 October raises the profile of cotton and its importance to farmers, trade and development.

Thursday 8 October 2026

• World Sight Day

  Awareness

  A global day on the second Thursday of October that draws attention to blindness, vision loss and access to eye care.

Friday 9 October 2026

• Baby Loss Awareness Week

  Awareness9 to 15 October 2026

  A week from 9 to 15 October that remembers babies who have died and raises awareness of pregnancy and baby loss.

• World Post Day

  Awareness

  World Post Day on 9 October celebrates postal services and their role in daily life, business and national development.

Saturday 10 October 2026

• Aotearoa New Zealand Bookshop Day

  Awareness

  Aotearoa New Zealand Bookshop Day is a Saturday in October when bookshops around the country hold events celebrating local bookselling.

• World Hospice and Palliative Care Day

  Awareness

  Held on the second Saturday in October, this day calls for better hospice and palliative care services around the world.

• World Mental Health Day

  Awareness

  A global day, held every 10 October, for raising awareness of mental health and pushing for better support and care everywhere.

• World Migratory Bird Day (October)

  Awareness

  The October edition of World Migratory Bird Day, on the second Saturday of the month, celebrates migratory birds and the habitats they rely on.

Sunday 11 October 2026

• International Day of the Girl Child

  Awareness

  The International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October highlights the challenges girls face and promotes their rights and empowerment.

• Navratri

  Religious and cultural11 to 19 October 2026

  Navratri is a nine-night Hindu festival in autumn honouring the goddess Durga, famous for Garba and Dandiya dancing.

• OCD Awareness Week

  Awareness11 to 17 October 2026

  An international week in October that challenges myths about obsessive compulsive disorder and helps people find effective treatment.

Monday 12 October 2026

• Mental Health Awareness Week (New Zealand)

  Awareness12 to 18 October 2026

  A national week run by the Mental Health Foundation to encourage New Zealanders to look after their mental wellbeing, held 12 to 18 October in 2026.

• Save the Kiwi Week

  Awareness12 to 18 October 2026

  Save the Kiwi Week is a national awareness week each October that puts the spotlight on protecting New Zealand's kiwi.

• World Arthritis Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 12 October that raises awareness of arthritis and other rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

Tuesday 13 October 2026

• Ada Lovelace Day

  Awareness

  An international day on the second Tuesday of October celebrating women in science, technology, engineering and maths, on 13 October 2026.

• International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

  Awareness

  On 13 October the UN highlights how people and communities are reducing their exposure to disasters and building resilience.

• World Thrombosis Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 13 October that raises awareness of blood clots, their risk factors and their warning signs.

Wednesday 14 October 2026

• International E-Waste Day

  Awareness

  Held on 14 October to encourage people to repair, reuse and properly recycle old electrical and electronic items.

• World Standards Day

  Awareness

  Held on 14 October each year to recognise the experts who write the international standards used by business and government.

Thursday 15 October 2026

• Global Handwashing Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 15 October promoting handwashing with soap as a simple way to prevent disease.

• International Credit Union Day

  Awareness

  Held on the third Thursday of October to recognise credit unions and their role in member owned financial services.

• International Day of Rural Women

  Awareness

  The International Day of Rural Women on 15 October recognises the vital role of rural women in farming, food security and ending rural poverty.

Friday 16 October 2026

• Pink Ribbon Street Appeal

  Awareness16 to 17 October 2026

  A two day national street collection in October by Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, with volunteers selling pink ribbons to fund breast cancer work.

• Restart a Heart Day

  Awareness

  Restart a Heart Day on 16 October each year aims to teach as many people as possible how to do CPR and use a defibrillator.

• World Food Day

  Awareness

  World Food Day on 16 October promotes action against hunger and for healthy, sustainable diets for everyone.

• World Spine Day

  Awareness

  World Spine Day on 16 October each year highlights back and neck pain and promotes good spinal health.

Saturday 17 October 2026

• International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

  Awareness

  On 17 October the UN calls for an end to poverty and for people living in poverty to help shape the policies that affect them.

• International Repair Day

  Awareness

  A day on the third Saturday of October when repair cafes and fixers hold events to promote repairing rather than replacing.

Sunday 18 October 2026

• Niue Language Week

  Religious and cultural18 to 24 October 2026

  A New Zealand week in mid October for the Niuean language, one of the Pacific Language Weeks. In 2026 it ran 18 to 24 October.

• World Menopause Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 18 October that raises awareness of the menopause and the support available to improve health at midlife.

Monday 19 October 2026

• Safer Boating Week

  Awareness19 to 25 October 2026

  Safer Boating Week runs in late October in New Zealand, reminding boaties to prepare, check and know the conditions before summer.