by Hobbs • 3 NOV 2026

Planning Ahead for the 2026/2027 Festive Season

The countdown to the holiday season is on! 🎄And a few of you have already been asking for our Christmas closure dates.

As we approach the end of 2026, here's what you need to know about our operational schedule over the festive season so you can plan your freight, warehousing and delivery requirements accordingly.

With the holiday period approaching, please take note of our upcoming closure dates and recommended national delivery cut-off dates.

Christmas & New Year Operating Hours

Our operating schedule for the festive season is outlined below:

Thursday, 19 November 2026: Our freight forwarding and 3PL teams will finish at 12:00 pm for the Hobbs Global Christmas function.

Thursday, 24 December 2026: Operations close at 12:00 pm. Carrier collections and deliveries will be limited to the morning.
Friday, 25 December – Monday, 28 December 2026: Closed for the Christmas holiday period.
Tuesday, 29 – Wednesday, 30 December 2026: Normal operational hours.
Thursday, 31 December 2026: Operations close at 12:00 pm. Carrier collections and deliveries will be limited to the morning.
Friday, 1 January – Monday, 4 January 2027: Closed for the New Year holiday period.
Tuesday, 5 January 2027: Normal operations resume.

Recommended National Delivery Cut-Off Dates

December is a busy time for transport networks across New Zealand, and increased freight volumes can affect delivery timeframes.

To help with your Christmas planning, we recommend working towards the following dispatch dates for pre-Christmas deliveries from our 3PL:

These dates are recommended planning targets only, and delivery before Christmas cannot be guaranteed. Actual transit times will depend on carrier schedules, freight volumes and transport capacity.

  • Auckland to North Island deliveries: Orders should be dispatched before 18 December 2026.
  • Auckland to South Island deliveries: Orders should be dispatched before 16 December 2026.

Getting Ready for the Festive Season

A little preparation now can help make the end-of-year rush easier for everyone. We recommend reviewing your stock requirements, arranging upcoming dispatches early and confirming your business's operating hours and delivery arrangements over the holiday period.

Please send us your Christmas and New Year closure dates so our team can coordinate your freight and warehousing requirements around your schedule.

If you have shipments to organise, stock that needs dispatching or any questions about our holiday operating hours, please get in touch with the Hobbs Global team.

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by Hobbs • 2 SEP 2026