Most primary schools finish today although a few finished yesterday or the day before. High school students finished earlier. Junior high school students – Years 9 and 10 – usually finish school in the second week of December while senior high school students finish when their exams finish. For most of these students, their last exam was in early December. They will receive their results in January.
School starts again for the new school year at the beginning of February. State schools have to be open for 194 days in the year. The school year is usually divided into four terms of about 10 weeks. The last term may be shorter. Private schools often have a longer holiday between terms because many of the students are boarders and go home during the holidays. However, not many students go to private schools in New Zealand.
School in New Zealand is compulsory between the ages of six and 16. However, most children start school the day they turn five, on their birthday. Many people from other countries find this strange but it is a popular custom in New Zealand. Children usually look forward to this birthday because it’s the day they start school.
Grammar
Notice that present simple is the best tense to use for routines or things that usually happen e.g. most schools finish, school starts, school is compulsory
“have to” or “must”? It is hard to give a rule but “have to” is more common than “must” although the meaning is similar; perhaps “have to” is more neutral; “must” sounds angry sometimes e.g. schools have to be open; students have to stay at school until they are 16; children have to go to school when they are six (but they may go when they are five).
However, we do use “must” when talking about things we need to do. e.g. I must remember to ..; I must go to the bank; I must tidy my room etc. Are you confused? Perhaps as a general rule, learn to use “have to” instead of “must”.
Idiom
“The day they turn five” means their birthday when they are five. To turn five (or any age) is an idiom.