New Zealand’s long, (hopefully) sunshine-filled summer break is almost here — and it’s the ideal time for businesses to prepare. Whether you’re closing completely or operating with a reduced team, these NZ holiday shutdown tips for businesses will help you manage leave smoothly, stay organised, and head into the new year without stress.

Below, we share simple, practical advice to get your business summer-ready — plus quick, industry-specific prompts for the busy Christmas / New Year period.

Plan Annual Leave, Payroll and Closedown Details Early

Managing annual leave, public holidays and shutdown requirements is one of the biggest parts of preparing for the summer break. A little organisation now will save you stress later.

Lock in leave early

Most workplaces see a surge in leave requests as soon as the weather warms up. Encourage your team to confirm their holiday dates well in advance so you can plan workloads, arrange cover, and avoid last-minute surprises.

Be clear on your closedown obligations

Under the Holidays Act, employers can require an annual closedown — but you must notify employees at least 14 days in advance. Make sure everyone understands:

• When the closedown starts and ends
• How much annual leave will be used
• What happens if staff don’t have 
• Whether any team members will remain on a skeleton crew or be on call

Check payroll and public holiday settings

Public holidays and leave calculations can get messy if not set up correctly. Before the break:

• Double-check public holiday entitlements, especially for staff who normally work those days
• Make sure leave balances, pay rates and shutdown dates are correctly entered in payroll
• Confirm how you’ll manage employees taking leave in advance or those without enough leave

Getting this right now is far easier than correcting payroll issues in January.

Stay Ahead of Tax and Compliance Dates

January can sneak up on you, especially when you’re halfway through a pavlova and trying to remember what day it is. A few financial housekeeping tasks before you switch off will save stress later.

• Set reminders for provisional tax — many businesses will have a 15 January payment due.
• Check upcoming GST periods so you’re not scrambling after the break.
• Review cash flow heading into December and January, when revenue can dip but expenses don’t.

If you’re not sure what needs doing, touch base with us before the holidays to confirm what needs attention and what can wait until February.

Wrap Up Admin Before the Office Empties Out

The end of the year is the perfect excuse to blitz the tasks that get pushed aside when things are busy. Before you lock the door:

• Clear overdue invoices and follow up late payments
• Make sure supplier bills are scheduled or paid
• Back up key systems and check software updates
• Organise maintenance for tools, equipment, vehicles, or IT gear
• Tidy shared spaces — your January self will thank you

A bit of pre-holiday organisation helps your team return motivated, not overwhelmed.

Set Goals and Reset for the New Year

Summer gives business owners the breathing room they often don’t get during the rest of the year. Use that clarity!

Ask yourself:

• What worked well this year?
• What needs to change?
• Where could you automate, outsource, or improve efficiency?

Whether it’s investing in better systems, tightening financial processes, or seeking expert support, the quieter holiday period is a great time to plan improvements for the year ahead.

Industry Specific Practical NZ holiday shutdown tips

Alongside general NZ holiday shutdown tips for businesses, it helps to think about the specific pressures and opportunities in your industry. Here are some quick prompts as you head into the break.

Civil construction

• Map out your last claims, retentions and realistic payment dates over Dec/Jan so cashflow surprises are minimised
• Talk to key clients now about approvals so nothing sits on a desk until late January
• Be clear which sites are fully shut and which have skeleton crews or call-outs
• Use the quiet time to sanity-check your Q1 programme – is the work you’ve said “yes” to actually profitable?

Trades

• Invoice as you go and avoid leaving big chunks of work unbilled over the break
• For bigger jobs, use deposits or progress payments so you’re not bankrolling everything
• Decide if you’re offering emergency call-outs, at what rates, and who’s on the roster
• Use quieter days to tidy vans, stocktake parts, and review key material costs

Hospitality

• Lock rosters in early for the peak period and double-check public holiday pay settings
• Simplify your menu to focus on profitable, high-margin dishes
• Take deposits and set clear cancellation policies for large bookings
• Confirm bookings via text/email to minimise no-shows

Hair & beauty

• Plan late nights and peak days, ensuring your booking system matches real capacity
• Promote Christmas packages, gift vouchers and “new year glow-up” offers
• Keep top-selling retail stocked without over-ordering slow movers
• Rebook clients into Jan/Feb before they leave the chair

Professional services

• Clear WIP and issue invoices before Christmas so January cashflow isn’t a shock
• Chase older debtors now while inboxes are still active
• Review your project list — double down on high-value work
• Book strategy/planning sessions with clients for late Jan/Feb while calendars are open

Keep Communication Clear Before and During the Holiday Break

A well-planned communication setup will stop holiday interruptions — and prevent small issues from turning into big problems.

Set expectations

Setting expectations early is one of the simplest ways to avoid confusion, interruptions, and unnecessary stress over the Christmas / New Year period.

Send a clear pre-holiday update

A short email or memo to staff and clients should cover:

• Your last working day
• Your first day back
• How public holidays and annual leave are being handled
• Who is on call (if anyone)
• What qualifies as a genuine emergency
• How to contact someone if it’s truly urgent

This ensures everyone knows what to expect while the business is closed.

Use tech to support your shutdown

Before signing off for the year:

• Set professional out-of-office messages
• Update your website and phone system with holiday hours
• Route urgent enquiries to a dedicated email or voicemail

Clear, visible information reduces unnecessary interruptions.

Encourage a proper break

Let your team know that switching off is encouraged. A rested crew in January is far more valuable than one checking emails throughout Christmas. If you’re unsure about any of this, flick us a note — it’s much easier to get it right now than fix it in February.

Enjoy a Stress-Free Break — We’re Here to Help

The summer holidays shouldn’t be a source of stress. With some planning and the right support, you can close out the year cleanly and step into January refreshed.

Whether you need payroll checks, advice on provisional tax, clarity on Christmas holiday season expenses, or support planning for the new year, Traktion is here to help.

If you’d like help getting ready for the holidays, or have any questions around leave, get in touch with the Traktion team.