Daylight saving time in New Zealand starts on the last Sunday in September and ends on the first Sunday in April each year.

Key dates for NZ daylight saving

  • Daylight saving begins at 2:00 am on the last Sunday in September, when clocks go forward one hour to New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT).
  • Daylight saving ends at 3:00 am on the first Sunday in April, when clocks go back one hour to New Zealand Standard Time (NZST).

Example for the 2025–2026 period

  • For the 2025–2026 season, daylight saving in NZ ends on Sunday 5 April 2026 at 3:00 am, when clocks are turned back one hour.
  • This follows the same rule used every year: last Sunday in September to first Sunday in April.

Quick planning tips

  • Most phones and computers change automatically, but ovens, microwaves, and car clocks often need a manual adjustment.
  • Remember the simple phrase many Kiwis use: “Spring forward, autumn back” to recall which way the clock moves.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.