Family and relationships awareness days
Dates that celebrate parents, children, carers and the people we love, from Mother's Day and Father's Day to campaigns on fostering, adoption and family wellbeing.
37 days, weeks and months in the next 12 months in the New Zealand calendar.
Coming up next
October 2026
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International Day of Care and Support
The International Day of Care and Support on 29 October recognises the value of care work and calls for investment in care systems.
November 2026
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Gumboot Friday
A day when New Zealanders wear gumboots and donate to fund free counselling for young people aged 25 and under, held on 6 November in 2026.
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World Prematurity Day
A global day on 15 November that raises awareness of preterm birth and the needs of babies born too early and their families.
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World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence
On 18 November the UN raises awareness of child sexual abuse, supports survivors and calls for prevention and accountability.
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World Children's Day
World Children's Day on 20 November is UNICEF's day of action for children's rights, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage
On 27 November the UN calls for an end to child, early and forced marriage.
December 2026
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Hanukkah
Hanukkah is the eight-day Jewish festival of lights in December, marked by lighting one more candle each night.
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Christmas in the Park (Auckland)
A free Christmas concert in the Auckland Domain with music and fireworks, held on a Saturday in December; 2026 is on 12 December.
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Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve on 24 December is the evening before Christmas Day, when many churches hold carol, Christingle and Midnight Mass services.
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Christmas Day
The Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus, held on 25 December and one of the biggest dates of the year for families and retailers.
February 2027
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Valentine's Day
A day for cards, flowers and gifts between partners, held on 14 February.
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International Childhood Cancer Day
Held on 15 February each year to raise awareness of cancer in children and teenagers and the support they and their families need.
March 2027
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Children's Day (Te Rā o ngā Tamariki)
Children's Day in New Zealand falls on the first Sunday of March and celebrates children with family friendly community events.
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Little Heart Day
Heart Kids NZ's annual appeal in March for children with heart conditions, held on Friday 20 March in 2026.
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Easter Sunday
The main Christian festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. Its date moves each year with the spring full moon.
April 2027
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Qingming Festival
Qingming, or Tomb Sweeping Day, is the Chinese festival in early April when families tend ancestors' graves and remember the dead.
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Siblings Day
Siblings Day on 10 April celebrates brothers and sisters, and is widely marked on social media.
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World Wish Day
World Wish Day on 29 April marks the anniversary of the first wish granted by Make-A-Wish and raises funds to grant wishes for seriously ill children.
May 2027
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Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Week (New Zealand)
A week in early May raising awareness of anxiety and depression during pregnancy and after birth, set for 3 to 9 May 2027.
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International Day of the Midwife
A global day on 5 May celebrating midwives and calling for more investment in midwifery.
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World Maternal Mental Health Day
A global day on the first Wednesday of May that raises awareness of mental health during pregnancy and the first year after birth.
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Mother's Day
A day to thank mums. In the UK it is Mothering Sunday, three weeks before Easter Sunday. In the USA it is the second Sunday in May.
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International Day of Families
The International Day of Families on 15 May raises awareness of the social, economic and demographic issues that affect families.
June 2027
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Global Day of Parents
The Global Day of Parents on 1 June honours parents everywhere for their commitment to raising and protecting their children.
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International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
On 4 June the UN acknowledges the suffering of children around the world who are victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.
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International Day of Play
The International Day of Play on 11 June highlights play as a fundamental right of every child and vital for learning and wellbeing.
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World Day Against Child Labour
The World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June focuses attention on ending child labour, which still affects around 138 million children.
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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June highlights the neglect, abuse and violence faced by older people.
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International Day of Family Remittances
The International Day of Family Remittances on 16 June recognises the money migrant workers send home to support families and communities.
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Bandanna Day (New Zealand)
Canteen Aotearoa's appeal on the last Friday of June, when people buy and wear bandannas to support young people affected by cancer.
July 2027
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Red Nose Day (New Zealand)
Cure Kids' annual appeal for child health research, held in late July with red noses, school events and fundraising.
August 2027
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World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week, 1 to 7 August, promotes breastfeeding and the support families need from communities, employers and governments.
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Qixi Festival
Qixi, sometimes called Chinese Valentine's Day, falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, usually in August.
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Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival in August celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters with a protective thread.
September 2027
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Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Held every September to raise awareness of cancer in children and young people, with the gold ribbon as its symbol.
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Father's Day
A day to thank dads, held on the third Sunday in June in both the UK and the USA.
October 2027
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Baby Loss Awareness Week
A week from 9 to 15 October that remembers babies who have died and raises awareness of pregnancy and baby loss.