when do the clocks change nz

In New Zealand, the clocks go forward 1 hour on the last Sunday in September and go back 1 hour on the first Sunday in April. The official change happens at 2am in spring and 3am in autumn, so for 2026 the next change is Sunday, 5 April 2026 at 3am.

Quick Scoop

• Spring forward: last Sunday in September.
• Autumn back: first Sunday in April.
• Next change in NZ: 5 April 2026 , clocks go back 1 hour at 3am.

What it means

If you’re in New Zealand now, daylight saving is currently active until the April switch-back, when the country returns to standard time. Phones and other smart devices usually update automatically, but manual clocks need to be changed by hand.

Handy reminder

A simple rule is:

• Spring: forward.
• Autumn: back.

If you want, I can also give you the exact change time for your NZ region or format this as a short social post.