Christchurch Airport · 2027 Waitangi Day (observed)
Mon 8 Feb 2027 → Mon 15 Feb 2027 · 7 nights · NZD · pay on arrival
94Listings
$1,397Median total
$739Cheapest
Snapshot · Mon 11 May 2026
Listings
94
9 suppliers · 8 categories
Median total
$1,396.66
≈ $200 / day
Cheapest
$739.20
Apex Toyota Corolla Hatch or similar · $105.60/day
Top end
$2,550.50
Hertz 12 Seat Bus or similar
Spread
3.5×
High ÷ low
§ 01The period7 nights · Waitangi Day weekend
Christchurch car rental prices soar for Waitangi Day
The observed Waitangi Day holiday in February 2027 is set to drive strong demand for South Island road trips. Based on 94 listings at Christchurch Airport, travellers can expect a highly active rental market. Securing a vehicle early will be crucial for those looking to explore the Canterbury region over the long weekend.
Pricing varies wildly across suppliers, with median weekly rates sitting at $1397. Budget-conscious renters should look to Apex for the lowest average price at $995, avoiding premium operators like Sixt where averages climb to $2235. A massive price spread of 3.45 means shopping around could save you over $1800 on the exact same dates.
The fleet is overwhelmingly made up of standard petrol cars, with 75 out of 94 vehicles seating five passengers. If you are travelling with a larger group, consider booking an 8-seater early as only 5 are currently available. Opting for a Compact car is the smartest financial move, with weekly rates starting as low as $739.
§01Ranked by avg. pricerange bar · avg tick
$0$300$600$900$1.2k
Apex dominates the budget end of the Christchurch Airport market, averaging $995, while Sixt sits firmly at the top with an average of $2234.
§02Anatomy of a quoteavg / hire
The base rate makes up 71.4 percent of the total rental cost, adding $154 in GST, location, and registration fees to the daily average of $541.
§03Price band by category$200–$1,100 axis
Compact cars offer the best value at an average of $1127, while Premium vehicles nearly double that cost at $2127 for the week.
§04Fleet mix94 listings
Drivetrain
Seats
Standard internal combustion engines still dominate the Christchurch fleet with 74 listings, though five-seaters remain the overwhelming choice at 75 units strong.
§05Cheapest in each categorytotal / 7 nights · per-day below
Apex sweeps the best deals across six vehicle categories, offering a week-long Compact rental for just $739.