What's open and closed on Christmas Day?

Christmas Day is just around the corner and for many Kiwis, that means settling in with loved ones, unwrapping gifts and digging into glazed ham and pavlova.

But the festive occasion also brings one of the quietest trading days of the year, with the majority of retailers shutting their doors under national trading restrictions.

Still, for those in need of a last-minute essential — or simply looking to get out of the house between presents — several services and venues will remain open.

Here’s your guide to what you can expect to find open on Christmas Day:

Christmas Day is a restricted trading day, meaning all supermarkets, department stores and mall retailers across the country must close.

That means if you're after a last-minute roast chicken, you're out of luck - major supermarket chains including Woolworths, New World and Pak’nSave will be shut nationwide.

If you’ve forgotten an ingredient, your best bet is a dairy or small convenience store. Many choose to open on Christmas Day under reduced hours.

Most larger retailers - including The Warehouse, Farmers and Briscoes - will have to remain closed until Boxing Day. Banks and government offices will also be shut.

Santa won’t need to worry about running out of fuel - and neither will you. Petrol stations will be open on Christmas Day, though their convenience stores may run limited hours or reduced services.

Most pharmacies are also open, but operating hours can vary widely. It’s best to check your local store’s holiday schedule before heading out.

If you need urgent medical care on Christmas Day, Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments at hospitals will remain open 24/7. Urgent care clinics also remain open, but some with reduced hours.

Emergency services including police, fire and emergency and Hate Hone St John operate as usual on Christmas Day.

There are no trading restrictions for hospitality, meaning cafés, restaurants, bars and takeaway outlets can open on Christmas Day. However, many shut their doors to give staff the day off.

Several major fast-food chains open a handful of stores on Christmas Day under select hours. Select KFC branches will operate from 11am–7pm on December 25. Other chains including McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Denny’s also open on Christmas Day, though hours vary by location.

Several restaurant venues will still operate on Christmas Day, but if you choose to dine out, be prepared - eateries who open on December 25 will likely apply a 15% public holiday surcharge.

For those keen to get out of the house, cinemas are among the most reliable Christmas Day entertainment options. Select Hoyts Cinemas around the country will open on December 25, with limited session times.

Event Cinemas will be open Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, but close Christmas Day.

Some tourist attractions may remain open, particularly in large cities and holiday hotspots. In Auckland, both Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium and Auckland Zoo will welcome visitors on Christmas Day.

Most council-run pools, libraries and community facilities will remain shut.

While licensed venues can serve alcohol on Christmas Day, off-licence sales are banned.

Bottle stores must close, and other stores are prohibited from selling beer or wine, so make sure to stock up on booze ahead of time.

Public transport services such as buses and trains typically operate on public-holiday timetables on Christmas Day. Some services may be suspended for the day, while others may operate as usual or with reduced frequency.

If you need to use a bus, train or ferry on the day, check your public transport provider’s website in advance to confirm their hours and schedules.

Plan ahead. Stock up on groceries, medications and any essentials in the days leading up to December 25.

Otherwise, you may find yourself dashing through the snow, or at least the summer sun, trying to hunt down something that isn’t open.