Christmas voicemail greetings you can copy.

For any business

• "Hi, you have reached Harbour Plumbing. We are closed for the Christmas break and back on Monday 11 January. Leave your name, number and what you need, and we will call you back when we return. Merry Christmas."
• "Thanks for calling Harbour Plumbing. Our team is taking a summer break until Monday 11 January. Leave a message and we will be in touch as soon as we are back. Have a safe and happy holiday."
• "Kia ora, this is Harbour Plumbing. We are closed over Christmas and New Year and reopen on Monday 11 January. Please leave your details and we will get back to you then. Meri Kirihimete."
• "You have reached Harbour Plumbing. We are away until Monday 11 January. For anything that cannot wait, please leave a message marked urgent with your number. Thanks, and happy holidays."

For tradies

• "Hi, you have reached Harbour Plumbing. We are on our Christmas break until Monday 11 January. If it is an emergency like a burst pipe or no power, say urgent and leave your address and number. Otherwise leave your details and we will book you in when we are back."
• "Thanks for calling Harbour Plumbing. The crew is off until Monday 11 January. Leave your name, address and what the job is, and we will get you booked in for January. Merry Christmas."
• "G’day, Harbour Plumbing here. We are closed until Monday 11 January. For urgent faults, leave a message with urgent in it and we will check messages daily. For quotes, leave your details and we will ring you when we are back."
• "You have reached Harbour Plumbing. We are taking a well-earned break until Monday 11 January. Leave your number and a quick description of the job, and you will be first on the list when we return."

For salons and barbers

• "Hi, you have reached Harbour Plumbing. We are closed for the holidays and back on Monday 11 January. Leave your name, number and the service you would like, and we will call you to book. Happy holidays."
• "Thanks for calling Harbour Plumbing. The salon is closed until Monday 11 January. You can book your January appointment online any time, or leave a message and we will ring you back."
• "Hey, it is Harbour Plumbing. We are on a summer break until Monday 11 January. Leave your details and we will get you in for a fresh cut when we are back. Merry Christmas."
• "You have reached Harbour Plumbing. We are closed over the break and reopen on Monday 11 January. If you need to move an existing appointment, leave your name and the time, and we will sort it as soon as we return."

For clinics and health practices

• "You have reached Harbour Plumbing. The clinic is closed for the Christmas break and reopens on Monday 11 January. If this is a medical emergency, please hang up and call 111. Otherwise leave your name and number and we will call you back."
• "Thank you for calling Harbour Plumbing. We are closed until Monday 11 January. For urgent care during the break, please contact an after-hours clinic or Healthline. To book an appointment, leave a message and we will return your call."
• "Hi, this is Harbour Plumbing. Our practice is closed over the holidays and back on Monday 11 January. Leave your name, date of birth and number, and the team will be in touch when we reopen."
• "You have reached Harbour Plumbing. We are closed until Monday 11 January. If you are an existing patient and need to change an appointment, please leave a message with your details. Take care over the holidays."

For cafes and restaurants

• "Hi, you have reached Harbour Plumbing. We are closed for a short Christmas break and reopen on Monday 11 January. Leave your name and number for bookings and we will call you back. Merry Christmas."
• "Thanks for calling Harbour Plumbing. Our kitchen is taking a break until Monday 11 January. For group bookings or functions, leave your details and we will be in touch when we are back."
• "Kia ora, Harbour Plumbing here. We are closed until Monday 11 January. You can book a table online any time, or leave a message and we will call you back."
• "You have reached Harbour Plumbing. We are closed over New Year and back on Monday 11 January. Thanks for a great year, and we look forward to seeing you soon."

For real estate, gyms and services

• "You have reached Harbour Plumbing. The office is closed for the holidays and reopens on Monday 11 January. For urgent property issues, leave a message marked urgent with your address. Otherwise we will call you back when we return."
• "Hi, you have reached Harbour Plumbing. We are closed until Monday 11 January. If you are calling about a listing, leave your name and number and the address you are interested in, and an agent will call you back."
• "Thanks for calling Harbour Plumbing. Our front desk is closed until Monday 11 January, but the gym hours over the break are on our website. Leave a message for memberships and we will be in touch."
• "You have reached Harbour Plumbing. We are taking a break until Monday 11 January. Leave your details and what you need help with, and we will make you our first call back. Happy holidays."

Email and website notices

Out-of-office email

Thanks for your email. Harbour Plumbing is closed for the Christmas break and back on Monday 11 January. We will reply to every message when we return. For anything urgent, please call and leave a message marked urgent. Merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Website or Facebook notice

Holiday hours: Harbour Plumbing is closed from Christmas until Monday 11 January. Calls are still answered over the break, and we will book you in for when we are back. Thanks for your support this year.

What makes a good one

• Say the day you are back, not just "the new year". Callers plan around a date.
• Keep it under 30 seconds. Most people decide to hang up in the first ten.
• Give urgent callers a path: an emergency number, after-hours service, or a message marked urgent.
• Ask for name, number and what they need, in that order, so every message is useful.
• Record it somewhere quiet and smile while you talk. It comes through.

Questions

How long should a Christmas voicemail greeting be?

Under 30 seconds. Say you are closed, the day you are back, and what to do if it is urgent, then ask for a name and number.

Should I say Merry Christmas or happy holidays?

Either is fine. Use the words your customers use. Many New Zealand businesses add Meri Kirihimete or kia ora.

What should I say for emergencies?

Give a clear path: an emergency number such as 111 for clinics, an after-hours service, or ask callers to say urgent and leave their address and number.

Is there anything better than voicemail over the break?

Most callers do not leave a message. Summer Shutdown Cover answers your calls instead: it tells callers when you are back, books them in for after the break and texts you anything urgent, for NZ$99 once.