NZ Stock Market Hours 2026
When is the NZX open?
The NZX is open for continuous trading from 10:00am to 4:45pm NZT, Monday to Friday. A pre-open and opening auction run from 9:00am, and a closing auction sets the final print between 4:45pm and 5:00pm. The exchange is closed on weekends and NZ public holidays.
- •Pre-open / opening auction: 9:00am – 10:00am NZT
- •Continuous trading: 10:00am – 4:45pm NZT
- •Closing auction: 4:45pm – 5:00pm NZT
- •Time zone: NZT (UTC+12 / UTC+13 during DST)
- •Closed: weekends + NZ public holidays
NZX daily schedule
| Session | Time (NZT) | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-open | 9:00am – 10:00am | Orders queued but no execution; indicative price published. |
| Opening auction | 10:00am | Single-price auction sets the day's opening price. |
| Continuous trading | 10:00am – 4:45pm | Normal continuous matching of bids and offers. |
| Pre-close | 4:45pm | Last few minutes; continuous matching pauses. |
| Closing auction | 4:45pm – 5:00pm | Single-price close sets official end-of-day price used for index calculations. |
2026 NZX public holiday closures
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan | New Year's Day |
| Fri 2 Jan | Day after New Year's Day |
| Fri 6 Feb | Waitangi Day |
| Fri 3 Apr | Good Friday |
| Mon 6 Apr | Easter Monday |
| Sat 25 Apr | ANZAC Day (Mondayised Mon 27 Apr) |
| Mon 1 Jun | King's Birthday |
| Fri 10 Jul | Matariki (actual date varies by year) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Labour Day |
| Fri 25 Dec | Christmas Day |
| Mon 28 Dec | Boxing Day (Mondayised from Sat 26 Dec) |
Regional anniversary days (e.g. Auckland Anniversary) are not NZX-wide closures. NZX announces any bespoke early-close days (e.g. Christmas Eve) via market notice.
Converting NZX hours to other time zones
NZ is 12 hours ahead of UTC standard time and 13 hours during NZ daylight saving (last Sunday of September to first Sunday of April). Rough conversions for continuous trading (10am–4:45pm NZT):
| Location | NZX open | NZX close |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney (AEDT) | 8:00am | 2:45pm |
| Singapore / Hong Kong | 5:00am (NZDT) | 11:45am (NZDT) |
| London (GMT/BST) | 9:00pm previous day (GMT) | 3:45am (GMT) |
| New York (EST/EDT) | 5:00pm previous day (EST) | 11:45pm (EST) |
Daylight-saving dates differ across countries. For a precise conversion on a specific date, use a time-zone converter — NZ DST runs September to April, while US and European DST run March/April to October/November.
Related reading
General Disclaimer
Frequently asked questions
What time does the NZX open and close?
The NZX opens for continuous trading at 10:00am NZT and closes at 4:45pm NZT, Monday to Friday. A pre-open / opening auction runs from approximately 9:00am, and a closing auction finalises the day's price between 4:45pm and 5:00pm NZT.
Is the NZX open on weekends?
No. The NZX is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Orders can usually be queued with most brokers overnight or over the weekend, but they will only execute when the market opens on the next business day.
What NZ holidays is the NZX closed?
The NZX observes New Zealand national public holidays including New Year's Day, Day after New Year's, Waitangi Day (6 February), Good Friday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day (25 April), King's Birthday (first Monday in June), Matariki (mid-late June or July, varies by year), Labour Day (fourth Monday in October), Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. If a holiday falls on a weekend it's usually Mondayised.
What NZ stock market hours in US Eastern Time?
During NZ daylight-saving time (roughly Oct-Apr), NZX open at 10am NZT equals 4:00pm EDT the previous afternoon; close at 4:45pm NZT equals 10:45pm EDT. During NZ standard time (Apr-Sep), NZX open is 5:00pm EST previous day; close is 11:45pm EST. Always double-check conversion for the specific date because US and NZ daylight-saving changeovers don't align.
Can I trade NZX shares after hours?
No — the NZX doesn't currently offer official after-hours trading. Orders placed outside trading hours rest with your broker and execute when the market opens. Some brokers do show indicative after-hours prices for dual-listed stocks based on ASX activity.
When do dividends get paid — on ex-dividend date or payment date?
Dividends are paid on the payment date, not the ex-dividend date. To receive an upcoming dividend you need to own the share before the ex-dividend date. On ex-dividend date the share usually opens lower by roughly the dividend amount. The cash arrives in your brokerage / registry account on the payment date, typically 2-6 weeks later.