New Zealand awareness days and key dates

Sunday 1 February 2026

• World Interfaith Harmony Week

  Awareness1 to 7 February 2026

  World Interfaith Harmony Week runs from 1 to 7 February and promotes understanding and goodwill between people of all faiths and none.

Monday 2 February 2026

• Candlemas

  Religious and cultural

  Candlemas on 2 February, also called the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, closes the Christmas and Epiphany season in many churches.

• Nelson Anniversary Day

  Public holidays

  Regional public holiday for Nelson, with a historic date of 1 February, observed on the Monday nearest 1 February; Monday 1 February in 2027.

• Tu BiShvat

  Religious and cultural

  Tu BiShvat, on 15 Shevat in the Jewish calendar, is the new year for trees, often marked by eating fruit and planting trees.

• World Wetlands Day

  Awareness

  World Wetlands Day on 2 February raises awareness of wetlands, which support a large share of the world's wildlife and are vanishing fast.

Wednesday 4 February 2026

• International Day of Human Fraternity

  Awareness

  The International Day of Human Fraternity on 4 February promotes dialogue and tolerance between people of different religions and cultures.

• World Cancer Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 4 February that encourages people and governments to act on cancer prevention, detection and treatment.

Friday 6 February 2026

• International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

  Awareness

  On 6 February the UN calls for an end to female genital mutilation, a human rights violation affecting millions of girls and women.

• Waitangi Day

  Public holidays

  New Zealand's national day on 6 February, marking the first signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Treaty of Waitangi, in 1840.

Monday 9 February 2026

• International Epilepsy Day

  Awareness

  A global day on the second Monday of February to raise awareness of epilepsy and the needs of people who live with it.

Tuesday 10 February 2026

• International Day of the Arabian Leopard

  Awareness

  The International Day of the Arabian Leopard on 10 February raises awareness of a critically endangered big cat native to the Arabian Peninsula.

• Safer Internet Day

  Awareness

  A day each February promoting safe and positive use of technology for children and young people, held on 10 February 2026 and 9 February 2027.

• World Pulses Day

  Awareness

  World Pulses Day on 10 February celebrates beans, lentils, peas and chickpeas and their role in healthy diets and sustainable farming.

Wednesday 11 February 2026

• International Day of Women and Girls in Science

  Awareness

  On 11 February the UN promotes full and equal access to science for women and girls, who remain under-represented in research.

• World Day of the Sick

  Religious and cultural

  A Catholic day of prayer on 11 February for people who are ill and for those who care for them.

Thursday 12 February 2026

• International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism

  Awareness

  On 12 February the UN raises awareness of violent extremism that can lead to terrorism and the need for international cooperation to prevent it.

Friday 13 February 2026

• World Radio Day

  Awareness

  World Radio Day on 13 February celebrates radio as the world's most widely used medium and its reach into remote communities.

Saturday 14 February 2026

• Valentine's Day

  Commercial and retail

  A day for cards, flowers and gifts between partners, held on 14 February.

Sunday 15 February 2026

• International Childhood Cancer Day

  Awareness

  Held on 15 February each year to raise awareness of cancer in children and teenagers and the support they and their families need.

• Maha Shivaratri

  Religious and cultural

  Maha Shivaratri is the great night of Shiva, a Hindu festival in February or March marked by fasting and night-long worship.

Tuesday 17 February 2026

• Global Tourism Resilience Day

  Awareness

  Global Tourism Resilience Day on 17 February encourages countries to prepare tourism to withstand and recover from shocks and emergencies.

• Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year)

  Religious and cultural

  Lunar New Year, also called Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, falls between late January and mid-February.

Wednesday 18 February 2026

• Ash Wednesday

  Religious and cultural

  Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in the Christian year, falling 46 days before Easter Sunday.

Friday 20 February 2026

• World Day of Social Justice

  Awareness

  The World Day of Social Justice on 20 February promotes fairness, decent work and social protection within and between countries.

Saturday 21 February 2026

• International Mother Language Day

  Awareness

  International Mother Language Day on 21 February promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and learning in the language people know best.

• World Pangolin Day

  Awareness

  Held on the third Saturday in February, World Pangolin Day raises awareness of pangolins, which are threatened by trafficking for their scales and meat.

Sunday 22 February 2026

• World Encephalitis Day

  Awareness

  A global awareness day on 22 February about encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, and the need for faster diagnosis and support.

• World Thinking Day

  Awareness

  Held on 22 February, when Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world celebrate international friendship.

Thursday 26 February 2026

• Auckland Lantern Festival

  Religious and cultural26 February to 1 March 2026

  Auckland's large lantern festival marking the Lunar New Year, with lantern displays, food and performances; the 2027 festival runs 18 to 21 February at the Manukau Sports Bowl.

Friday 27 February 2026

• Big Heart Appeal

  Awareness27 to 28 February 2026

  The Heart Foundation's national street appeal, held over the last Friday and Saturday of February to fund heart research and care.

• International Polar Bear Day

  Awareness

  Held on 27 February, International Polar Bear Day raises awareness of polar bears and the threat that Arctic sea ice loss poses to them.

• Pokemon Day

  Commercial and retail

  Pokemon Day on 27 February marks the anniversary of the first Pokemon games, with announcements, store events and online broadcasts for fans.

Saturday 28 February 2026

• Rare Disease Day

  Awareness

  A global day on the last day of February that raises awareness of rare diseases and the people living with them.

• Seaweek (Kaupapa Moana)

  Awareness28 February to 8 March 2026

  Seaweek is New Zealand's national week of events celebrating the sea, held over nine days in late February and early March.