New Zealand awareness days and key dates

Thursday 3 September 2026

• Merchant Navy Day (New Zealand)

  Awareness

  Annual national commemoration on 3 September at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park honouring merchant seafarers who served in wartime.

Friday 4 September 2026

• Bird of the Year (Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau)

  Awareness4 to 20 September 2026

  Bird of the Year is Forest and Bird's public vote for New Zealand's favourite native bird, held each September with the winner announced at the end.

• Janmashtami

  Religious and cultural

  Janmashtami is the Hindu festival in August or September celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna.

Saturday 5 September 2026

• International Day of Charity

  Awareness

  The International Day of Charity on 5 September encourages people and organisations to help others through volunteering and giving.

• International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls

  Awareness

  On 5 September the UN highlights the leadership, contributions and challenges of Indigenous women and girls around the world.

• International Vulture Awareness Day

  Awareness

  Held on the first Saturday of September to raise awareness of vultures, their role in nature and the threats they face.

Sunday 6 September 2026

• Father's Day

  Commercial and retail

  A day to thank dads, held on the third Sunday in June in both the UK and the USA.

• Papua New Guinea Pidgin Language Week

  Religious and cultural6 to 12 September 2026

  A New Zealand week in early September for the Papua New Guinea Tok Pisin language, one of the Pacific Language Weeks. In 2026 it ran 6 to 12 September.

Monday 7 September 2026

• International Day of Clean Air for blue skies

  Awareness

  The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies on 7 September calls for faster action to cut air pollution for health and climate.

• International Day of Police Cooperation

  Awareness

  The International Day of Police Cooperation on 7 September highlights the value of international cooperation between police forces.

• World Duchenne Awareness Day

  Awareness

  World Duchenne Awareness Day on 7 September raises awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the needs of people with rare diseases.

Tuesday 8 September 2026

• International Literacy Day

  Awareness

  International Literacy Day on 8 September highlights literacy as a human right and the millions of people who still cannot read and write.

• World Physiotherapy Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 8 September highlighting how physiotherapists help people stay active and independent.

Wednesday 9 September 2026

• International Day to Protect Education from Attack

  Awareness

  On 9 September the UN calls for schools, students and teachers to be protected from attack during conflict.

Thursday 10 September 2026

• World Suicide Prevention Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 10 September that raises awareness that suicide can be prevented and encourages action to reduce it.

Saturday 12 September 2026

• Rosh Hashanah

  Religious and cultural12 to 13 September 2026

  Rosh Hashanah is the two-day Jewish New Year, usually in September or early October.

• United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation

  Awareness

  On 12 September the UN celebrates cooperation and the sharing of solutions between developing countries of the Global South.

Sunday 13 September 2026

• World Sepsis Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 13 September that raises awareness of sepsis, how to prevent it and the need for early treatment.

Monday 14 September 2026

• Ganesh Chaturthi

  Religious and cultural

  Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival in late summer honouring Lord Ganesh, remover of obstacles.

• Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week)

  Religious and cultural14 to 20 September 2026

  Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is New Zealand's Māori Language Week, held each September from 14 September to encourage everyday use of te reo Māori.

Tuesday 15 September 2026

• International Day of Democracy

  Awareness

  The International Day of Democracy on 15 September is a chance to review the state of democracy around the world.

• World Lymphoma Awareness Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 15 September that raises awareness of lymphoma symptoms, diagnosis and life with the disease.

Wednesday 16 September 2026

• International Day for Interventional Cardiology

  Awareness

  The International Day for Interventional Cardiology on 16 September raises awareness of heart disease and treatments such as angioplasty.

• International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

  Awareness

  On 16 September the UN celebrates efforts to protect the ozone layer, which shields the Earth from harmful solar radiation.

• International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South

  Awareness

  On 16 September the UN promotes science and innovation in developing countries and calls for fairer access to technology.

• Malaya and Malaysia Commemoration (New Zealand)

  Awareness

  Annual national commemoration on 16 September remembering the New Zealanders who served in Malaya, Malaysia and Borneo between 1948 and 1966.

Thursday 17 September 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.

• World Patient Safety Day

  Awareness

  World Patient Safety Day on 17 September promotes action to make health care safer for patients everywhere.

Friday 18 September 2026

• International Equal Pay Day

  Awareness

  International Equal Pay Day on 18 September calls for equal pay for work of equal value.

Saturday 19 September 2026

• International Red Panda Day

  Awareness

  Held on the third Saturday of September to celebrate red pandas and raise support for protecting them in the wild.

• Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean Up Week

  Awareness19 to 26 September 2026

  Clean Up Week is a nationwide week each September when communities, schools and businesses pick up litter, coordinated by Keep New Zealand Beautiful.

• Suffrage Day (New Zealand)

  Awareness

  Marked each year on 19 September, the anniversary of New Zealand women winning the right to vote in national elections in 1893.

Sunday 20 September 2026

• World Cleanup Day

  Awareness

  World Cleanup Day on 20 September encourages communities everywhere to clean up litter and manage waste sustainably.

Monday 21 September 2026

• International Day of Peace

  Awareness

  The International Day of Peace on 21 September promotes peace as a human right and calls for a day of non-violence and ceasefire.

• World Alzheimer's Day

  Awareness

  A global awareness day for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, held on 21 September each year.

• Yom Kippur

  Religious and cultural

  Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the Jewish year, marked by a 25-hour fast.

Tuesday 22 September 2026

• World Rhino Day

  Awareness

  Held on 22 September, World Rhino Day celebrates all five rhino species and supports efforts to protect them.

Wednesday 23 September 2026

• Bi Visibility Day

  Awareness

  A day on 23 September celebrating bisexual people and challenging bi erasure.

• International Day of Sign Languages

  Awareness

  The International Day of Sign Languages on 23 September promotes the recognition of sign languages and the rights of deaf people.

Thursday 24 September 2026

• World Gorilla Day

  Awareness

  Held on 24 September, World Gorilla Day celebrates gorillas and encourages action to protect them in the wild.

• World Maritime Day

  Awareness

  World Maritime Day, held in late September, celebrates shipping and the seafarers who carry more than 80 per cent of world trade.

Friday 25 September 2026

• Mid-Autumn Festival

  Religious and cultural

  The Mid-Autumn Festival, on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, celebrates the harvest moon with mooncakes and lanterns.

• World Lung Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 25 September that promotes lung health and action on air pollution, smoking and access to care.

• World Pharmacists Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 25 September recognising the role of pharmacists in health care.

Saturday 26 September 2026

• International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

  Awareness

  On 26 September the UN raises awareness of the threat nuclear weapons pose and calls for a world free of them.

• 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.

• World Contraception Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 26 September that promotes awareness of contraception and informed choices about sexual health.

• World Environmental Health Day

  Awareness

  Held on 26 September to highlight the work of environmental health professionals in protecting communities from health hazards.

Sunday 27 September 2026

• 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.

• World Rivers Day

  Awareness

  Held on the fourth Sunday of September, World Rivers Day celebrates rivers and encourages people to help protect and restore them.

• World Tourism Day

  Awareness

  World Tourism Day on 27 September highlights the role of tourism in jobs, culture and sustainable development.

Monday 28 September 2026

• International Day for Universal Access to Information

  Awareness

  On 28 September the UN promotes everyone's right to seek, receive and share information.

• South Canterbury Anniversary Day

  Public holidays

  Regional public holiday for South Canterbury, with a historic date of 16 December, observed on the fourth Monday in September; Monday 27 September in 2027.

• World Rabies Day

  Awareness

  Marked on 28 September, World Rabies Day raises awareness of rabies prevention, including dog vaccination, and supports the goal of ending human deaths from the disease.

Tuesday 29 September 2026

• International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

  Awareness

  On 29 September the UN encourages action to reduce the food lost on farms and in supply chains and wasted in shops and homes.

• World Heart Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 29 September that raises awareness of heart disease and stroke and how to prevent them.

Wednesday 30 September 2026

• International Translation Day

  Awareness

  International Translation Day on 30 September pays tribute to translators, interpreters and other language professionals.