Daylight Savings Time Changes in New Zealand 🇳🇿 (2003)
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Capital: | Wellington |
| Abbreviations: | NZ, NZL |
| IANA Time Zones: | 4 |
| Dial Code: | +64 |
Daylight Savings Time Schedule and Information
Before
02
:
59
After
02
:
00
16 MAR
16 Mar 2003 - Daylight Saving Time Ends
When local standard time is about to reach Sunday, 16 March 2003, 02:59 clocks are turned backward 1 hour to
Sunday, 16 March 2003, 02:00 local standard time instead.
Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour earlier on 16 Mar 2003 than the day before. There will be more light in the morning.
Also called Fall Back.
Before
01
:
59
After
03
:
00
5 OCT
05 Oct 2003 - Daylight Saving Time Starts
When local standard time is about to reach Sunday, 05 October 2003, 01:59 clocks are turned forward 1 hour to
Sunday, 05 October 2003, 03:00 local daylight time instead.
Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later on 05 Oct 2003 than the day before. There will be more light in the evening.
Also called Spring Forward.
Daylight Savings Time Schedules by Regions in New Zealand (2003)
| Region | DST Start (Spring) | DST End (Fall) |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Bay of Plenty | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Canterbury | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Chatham Islands | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Gisborne | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Hawke's Bay Region | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Manawatu-Wanganui | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Marlborough | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Nelson Region | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Northland | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Otago | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Southland | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Taranaki Region | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Tasman District | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Waikato Region | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| Wellington Region | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
| West Coast | 05 Oct 2003 | 16 Mar 2003 |
DST Changes Summary for New Zealand
| Date | Year | Change | Time | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06 Apr | 2025 | Back 1 hour | 02:59 ➜ 02:00 | Daylight Saving End |
| 28 Sep | 2025 | Forward 1 hour | 01:59 ➜ 03:00 | Daylight Saving Start |
| 05 Apr | 2026 | Back 1 hour | 02:59 ➜ 02:00 | Daylight Saving End |
| 27 Sep | 2026 | Forward 1 hour | 01:59 ➜ 03:00 | Daylight Saving Start |
| 04 Apr | 2027 | Back 1 hour | 02:59 ➜ 02:00 | Daylight Saving End |
| 26 Sep | 2027 | Forward 1 hour | 01:59 ➜ 03:00 | Daylight Saving Start |
| 02 Apr | 2028 | Back 1 hour | 02:59 ➜ 02:00 | Daylight Saving End |
| 24 Sep | 2028 | Forward 1 hour | 01:59 ➜ 03:00 | Daylight Saving Start |
| 01 Apr | 2029 | Back 1 hour | 02:59 ➜ 02:00 | Daylight Saving End |
| 30 Sep | 2029 | Forward 1 hour | 01:59 ➜ 03:00 | Daylight Saving Start |
| 07 Apr | 2030 | Back 1 hour | 02:59 ➜ 02:00 | Daylight Saving End |
| 29 Sep | 2030 | Forward 1 hour | 01:59 ➜ 03:00 | Daylight Saving Start |
Read More About Daylight Savings Time
Common Questions about Daylight Savings Time Changes in New Zealand
Does New Zealand use Daylight Saving Time in 2003?
Yes, New Zealand observes Daylight Saving Time during the 2003 calendar year. The country follows the practice of shifting clocks to better align waking hours with the available evening sunlight during the spring and summer months.
When do the clocks change next in New Zealand?
The next scheduled time transition in New Zealand will take place on Sunday, 16 March 2003. At 02:59 local time, clocks will be turned backward by 1 hour. This specific change marks the transition to daylight saving time ends.
Does all of New Zealand follow the same time change schedule?
Yes, the calendar dates for starting and ending Daylight Saving Time are consistent across the country. However, because New Zealand spans 4 different time zones, the actual moment the clocks move occurs at different times depending on the local timezone of each region.
How will the next transition affect the day in New Zealand?
Following the shift on 16 Mar 2003, you will notice that there is more light in the morning compared to the day before. While the transition may temporarily disrupt sleep patterns, the primary goal of this backward shift is to maximize usable daylight for the population.