A New Zealander is credited with first coming up with the idea for Daylight Saving.
This Sunday at 2am, clocks across Aotearoa will spring forward by an hour as daylight saving time begins, meaning a 6.30am wake-up will feel like 5.30am.
It will be darker when you wake up in the morning, but the sun will set an hour later.
Fire and Emergency New Zealandhas advised Kiwis to check their smoke alarms when they go to change their clocks (if they still own a clock that needs manual adjustment).
It says people should check smoke alarms for dust and see if they still work, with the batteries live.
We’re advised to check the alarm’s expiry date too – most last 10 years at the most.
Clocks are set to go forward one hour at 2am this Sunday. Photo / 123RF
Daylight hours and changeable spring weather
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told the Herald the sun has started rising earlier and setting later since the spring equinox began on Tuesday.
“The days are going to start becoming longer, and the night shorter,” Makgabutlane said.
“I guess in New Zealand, in response, daylight savings is implemented in order to maximise those longer days in the evening.”
As for the weather at this time of year, the classic springtime pattern has been seen across the country already.
These early-morning Auckland commuters are experiencing the changeable weather that's typical in spring. Photo / Michael Craig
“Very kind of blustery westerlies moving across the country, transporting fast-moving weather systems,” Makgabutlane said.
“We oscillate between these periods of showery, maybe rainy weather, quite strong winds as well, either northwesterly and then eventually southwesterly.
“That weather clears and then we have maybe a day or so of settled weather before the next weather system comes through again.”
How long have we been doing this?
New Zealand first observed daylight saving in 1927.
However, the dates that clocks went forward and back, and the amount of time they were changed, have varied over the years.
In 1941, daylight saving was extended year-round under emergency regulations to help save energy during World War II.
Five years later, daylight saving time (or summer time as it was then known) was adopted as standard time, effectively discontinuing daylight saving.
In 1975, daylight saving was introduced again.
It was extended to its current dates – from the last Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April – in 2007.
