When does daylight saving start - and do the clocks go forward or back?

The clocks are set to change this Sunday, September 29. Photo / 123rf

By RNZ

Daylight saving begins on Sunday, September 29, which will mean we lose an hour of sleep - but the days will be warmer and brighter.

So when do the clocks switch over? Why do we observe daylight saving? And how do you check the time on your phone is accurate? Here’s everything you need to know.

When does daylight saving start in New Zealand?

Clocks will go forward one hour at 2am on Sunday, September 29.

Do the clocks go forward or back?

Clocks go forward for summer, from 2am to 3am. That means you’ll lose an hour’s sleep and it will be darker when you wake up in the morning.

It also means the sun will go down an hour later, allowing extra extra time in the evening for those summer BBQs.

Daylight saving signals that summer is on the way. Photo / 123rf

How do I change the time on my phone?

Most smartphones will adjust to time zones automatically. Here’s how to check if yours does:

Android: Go into the clock app, tap “more” and then go into settings. Go into “change date and time”, select “set time zone automatically” and then select “use location” to set time zone.

iPhone: Open settings, select general, go to date and time and make sure “set automatically” is turned on.

Samsung: Open settings, go to general management, select date and time and then make sure automatic date and time is turned on. This should mean your phone will automatically reflect the time depending on where you are.

Why do we have daylight saving?

Because the Earth is on a tilt (of about 23 degrees, for those curious), we are exposed to more sun during summer and less during winter.

That means the days are longer during the warmer months and shorter in the colder months.

Daylight saving is intended to make the most of those long daylight hours. It means an extra hour of light on summer evenings, rather than super early in the mornings when hardly anyone is awake to enjoy it.

Daylight saving means you'll lose an hour of sleep this weekend. Photo / 123rf

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, varied over the following 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.

When will daylight saving time end?

Daylight saving time ends every year at 3am on the first Sunday in April.

That means it ends in 2025 at 3am on Sunday April 6.

Your phone should update to daylight saving time automatically.

Do other countries observe daylight saving?

They do, but they’re in the minority. About two thirds of the world’s countries do not change their clocks throughout the year, according to Pew Research.

The practice is most popular in Europe, where 37 out of 44 countries observe daylight saving, and it’s also observed in parts of North America, Latin America and Australia.

Egypt is the only African nation with daylight saving after bringing it back in 2023.

Countries close to the equator do not usually change their clocks as the length of their days does not vary enough throughout the year to justify it.

What if I’m working when the time changes?

The rules around getting paid for working during daylight saving time are set out in the Time Act 1974.

It says that if you’re working when clocks go back an hour, you are entitled to be paid for that extra hour.

For example, if your shift started at 10pm and finishes at 6am, you will have worked nine hours and must be paid for nine hours of work.

If you’re working on September 29, when the clocks go forward, you are still entitled to be paid for your normal hours. In this instance, a 10pm-6am shift will only mean seven hours of work, but you must be paid for eight.

I’ve changed the clock on my microwave - what next?

Daylight saving is a good time to check the batteries on your smoke alarm by pushing the test button to sound the alarm.

Check the alarm’s expiry date too - most last a maximum of 10 years - and give the cover a clean to avoid false alarms from dust buildup.

- RNZ