Daylight saving begins this weekend

22/09/2008

New Zealand daylight saving begins next Sunday 28 September 2008, when clocks go forward an hour at 2.00 am to become 3.00 am.

The extra hour of daylight in the evenings will run till Sunday 5 April 2009, when clocks go back an hour at 3 a.m. to 2 a.m.

New Zealand moved to an extended period of daylight saving last year after a government review, which followed public debate and a petition to Parliament. Clocks now go forward an hour on the last Sunday in September (instead of the first Sunday in October) and revert to standard time on the first Sunday in April (instead of the third Sunday in March) when clocks go back an hour.

As well as altering clocks, the change to daylight saving is an opportune time for people to check their household emergency plans and survival kits and home smoke alarms.

People may find it convenient to advance their clocks by one hour before going to bed on Saturday 27 September.

Full background on daylight saving in New Zealand can be found the Department of Internal Affairs website at:
http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Daylight-Saving-Index?OpenDocument

Media Contact:
Trevor Henry, communications adviser, Department of Internal Affairs
Ph: 04 495 7211; cell: 0275 843 679