New Zealand awareness days and key dates

Wednesday 1 July 2026

• New Zealand Garden Bird Survey

  Awareness27 June to 5 July 2026

  The New Zealand Garden Bird Survey asks people to spend an hour counting the birds in their garden or local park over nine days from late June.

• New Zealand Chinese Language Week

  Awareness29 June to 5 July 2026

  New Zealand Chinese Language Week encourages New Zealanders to learn some Mandarin and explore Chinese culture, held over a week in midyear.

• Canada Day

  Religious and cultural

  Canada Day on 1 July is Canada's national day, marking Confederation in 1867.

Saturday 4 July 2026

• International Day of Cooperatives

  Awareness

  The International Day of Cooperatives, on the first Saturday of July, celebrates member-owned businesses and their role in fair and inclusive economies.

Sunday 5 July 2026

• Kiribati Language Week

  Religious and cultural5 to 11 July 2026

  A New Zealand week in early July for the Kiribati language, one of the Pacific Language Weeks. In 2026 it ran 5 to 11 July.

Monday 6 July 2026

• World Rural Development Day

  Awareness

  World Rural Development Day on 6 July draws attention to sustainable development in rural areas, where much of the world lives and works.

• World Zoonoses Day

  Awareness

  Held on 6 July, World Zoonoses Day raises awareness of diseases that pass between animals and people, marking Pasteur's first rabies vaccination in 1885.

Tuesday 7 July 2026

• World Kiswahili Language Day

  Awareness

  World Kiswahili Language Day on 7 July celebrates Kiswahili, spoken by more than 200 million people across East, Central and Southern Africa.

Friday 10 July 2026

• Matariki public holiday (Te Rā Aro ki a Matariki)

  Public holidays

  New Zealand public holiday marking the Māori new year with the rising of the Matariki star cluster; Friday 25 June in 2027.

Saturday 11 July 2026

• International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica

  Awareness

  On 11 July the UN remembers the victims of the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica and works to counter denial and prevent future genocides.

• World Horse Day

  Awareness

  World Horse Day on 11 July celebrates the long partnership between people and horses and calls attention to their welfare.

• World Population Day

  Awareness

  World Population Day on 11 July focuses attention on population issues and their links to development, health and the environment.

Sunday 12 July 2026

• International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms

  Awareness

  On 12 July the UN raises awareness of sand and dust storms and the harm they cause to health, especially in dry regions.

• International Day of Hope

  Awareness

  The International Day of Hope on 12 July celebrates hope as a force that unites people in facing shared global challenges.

Wednesday 15 July 2026

• World Youth Skills Day

  Awareness

  World Youth Skills Day on 15 July highlights the value of giving young people skills for work, decent jobs and enterprise.

Saturday 18 July 2026

• National Moth Week

  Awareness18 to 26 July 2026

  A global citizen science week in late July when people record moths and learn about their role in nature.

• Nelson Mandela International Day

  Awareness

  Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July, his birthday, encourages people to take action in their communities in his honour.

Monday 20 July 2026

• Eye Tissue Donation Awareness Week

  Awareness20 to 24 July 2026

  Organ Donation New Zealand's July week explaining eye and corneal tissue donation, held 21 to 25 July in 2025.

• International Moon Day

  Awareness

  International Moon Day on 20 July marks the first human landing on the Moon in 1969 and promotes sustainable lunar exploration.

• World Chess Day

  Awareness

  World Chess Day on 20 July celebrates chess as a game that builds goodwill, dialogue and cooperation between people.

Wednesday 22 July 2026

• World Brain Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 22 July that raises awareness of brain health and neurological conditions.

Thursday 23 July 2026

• Tisha B'Av

  Religious and cultural

  Tisha B'Av is the Jewish fast day on 9 Av mourning the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem and other tragedies.

Friday 24 July 2026

• International Self-Care Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 24 July that promotes self-care as part of good health. The date reflects self-care being practised 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Saturday 25 July 2026

• International Day for Judicial Well-being

  Awareness

  The International Day for Judicial Well-being on 25 July recognises that the wellbeing of judges supports fair, independent and effective justice.

• International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent

  Awareness

  On 25 July the UN recognises the contributions of women and girls of African descent and the discrimination they still face.

• World Drowning Prevention Day

  Awareness

  World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July highlights the toll of drowning on families and communities and promotes ways to prevent it.

Sunday 26 July 2026

• International Bog Day

  Awareness

  A day on the fourth Sunday of July that raises awareness of peatlands, their benefits and the threats they face.

• International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem

  Awareness

  A UNESCO day on 26 July that raises awareness of mangroves and the need to protect these coastal forests.

• Vanuatu Bislama Language Week

  Religious and cultural26 July to 1 August 2026

  A New Zealand week in late July for the Vanuatu Bislama language, one of the Pacific Language Weeks. In 2026 it ran 26 July to 1 August.

Monday 27 July 2026

• Biosecurity Week (New Zealand)

  Awareness27 July to 2 August 2026

  Biosecurity Week in New Zealand falls in the final week of July and highlights the work protecting the country from pests and diseases.

Tuesday 28 July 2026

• World Hepatitis Day

  Awareness

  World Hepatitis Day on 28 July raises awareness of viral hepatitis and calls for a stronger global response.

Wednesday 29 July 2026

• Global Tiger Day

  Awareness

  Held on 29 July, Global Tiger Day raises awareness of wild tigers and efforts to protect them and their habitats.

Thursday 30 July 2026

• International Day of Friendship

  Awareness

  The International Day of Friendship on 30 July celebrates friendship between people, cultures and countries as a foundation for peace.

• World Day against Trafficking in Persons

  Awareness

  The World Day against Trafficking in Persons on 30 July raises awareness of human trafficking and calls for better protection of victims.

Friday 31 July 2026

• Red Nose Day (New Zealand)

  Awareness

  Cure Kids' annual appeal for child health research, held in late July with red noses, school events and fundraising.

• World Ranger Day

  Awareness

  Held on 31 July, World Ranger Day honours rangers killed or injured on duty and recognises their work protecting nature and cultural heritage.