Through my stay, I have experienced some of the important days described below:

The Anzac day:

 I was quite surprised one day when going to town: I saw military personnel carrying bags for donations. In exchange they were giving a poppy… what is the relation between the military and the poppy, I have to admit I was quite amazed.

Here is the signification:

The Anzac Day ceremony is rich in tradition and ritual. It is essentially a military funeral.

Why poppies?

Poppies have an enduring association with Anzac Day, dating back to the 1920s. Throughout New Zealand, people of all ages wear a red poppy as a mark of remembrance for the men and women who have died in the course of service for their country.

The connection between red poppies and fallen service personnel has its origins in the Napoleonic Wars of the early nineteenth century; red or Flanders poppies were the first flowers to bloom over the graves of soldiers in northern France and Belgium.

It was in the same region - the Western Front - a century later that red poppies were once more associated with those who died in war.

Why is it called Anzac Day? 

ANZAC actually stands for “Australia New Zealand Army Corp”

New Zealand and Australia share a tradition of Anzac Biscuits. Both countries claim to have invented them, but Anzac Biscuits are similar to many other older biscuit recipes that are designed to produce crisp, hard and nutritious biscuits that keep well.

One of the food items that women in both countries sent to soldiers during the First World War was a hard, long-keeping biscuit that could survive the journey by sea, and still remain edible. 

Queen’s birthday

Why?

Many New Zealanders celebrate the Queen's Birthday on the first Monday of June each year, as New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with the Queen of the United Kingdom being the head of state.

What do they do?

Many people have the day off on the Queen’s birthday, because it is a public holiday, and it  is the official opening of the ski season. It’s held on a Monday so is part of a long weekend. The Queen's Honours list is released around the time of the Queen’s birthday public holiday. This list has hundreds of recipients, who are honoured and recognized for public service, from services to television to services to prisoner welfare.

However I asked people the meaning for them and they admitted that for them it was just a day off (work) and that they don’t do anything special. 

Waitangi Day

Waitangi Day is the national day in New- Zealand. It commemorates a significant day in its history. It is a public holiday held each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.

How do they celebrate?

I wasn’t here but I heard that it has nothing like  the French 14th of July.

Celebrations at Waitangi often commence the previous day, 5 February, where political dignitaries are welcomed and hear speeches from locals. These speeches often deal with the issues of the day, and vigorous and robust debate occurs.

At dawn on Waitangi Day, the Royal New Zealand Navy raises the New Zealand Flag, Union Flag and White Ensign on the flagstaff in the treaty grounds. The ceremonies during the day generally include a church service and cultural displays such as dance and song. Several waka (a kind of canoe) and a navy ship also re-enact the calling ashore of Governor Hobson to sign the treaty. The day closes with the flags being lowered by the Navy in a traditional ceremony.

In recent years, communities throughout New Zealand have been celebrating Waitangi Day in a variety of ways. These often take the form of public concerts and festivals. Since the day is also Bob Marley's birthday, reggae music is especially popular. Wellington has a long running "One Love" festival that celebrates peace and unity. Celebrations are largely muted in comparison to those seen on the national days of most countries. There are no mass parades, nor truly widespread celebrations. As the day is a public holiday, and happens during the warmest part of the New Zealand summer, most people take the opportunity to spend the day at the beach – an important part of New Zealand culture.