Day Light Saving Starts 1 October 2023

This weekend it is time to Spring Forward for the start of Day Light Saving on Sunday 1 October. Sunrise and Sunset will be about an hour later, which will make it easier to enjoy outdoor activities after work, and to have evening BBQs without it getting dark before dinner is cooked. Norfolk Island first observed Daylight-Saving Time in 1974 and it was observed for three years. I found it interesting to read that New Zealand also trialed and re-introduced Day Light Saving in 1974 -1975.

In 2017, the local Norfolk Island Regional Council, NIRC, held a community survey, regarding the Norfolk Island time zone and 85% of the respondents strongly supported changing the Norfolk Island time zone. The Norfolk Island Time Zone had been previously adjusted a few years earlier (2015), from UTC +11.5 to UTC +11.0, our clocks were changed by half an hour, which meant extremely early sunrises in the summer months and early sunsets. Norfolk Island re-introduced Day Light Saving for the 2019 summer, and many welcomed the re-introduction of Daylight Saving for Norfolk Island.

Day Light Saving is to assist with the enjoyment of the Summertime hours and as these areas are in the lower areas of the Southern Hemisphere, the adjustment assists in maximising the use of daytime activities. Day Light Saving can also reduce the use of lighting therefore reduce the cost of energy charges. Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later, so it will be lighter in the evenings.

Day Light Saving will commence the first Sunday in October, adjusting time forward one hour and then on the first Sunday in April the time is returned back one hour. This year starting 1 October 2023 to 7 April 2024.

Australia states which are included in DST starts the same day as Norfolk Island, 1 October 2023 and ends 7 April 2024.

New Zealand DST starts a week earlier 24 September 2023 and ends 7 April 2024.

With the start of Daylight Saving, don’t forget if you are calling friends and family across the ditch in New Zealand and Australia, there is now a difference in time zones which will also affect the TV viewing times. Now that the summer season is just about to start, it is time to enjoy the Norfolk Island outdoors. I love to spend time at Emily Bay and enjoy BBQs watching the sunsets.

Betty Matthews

29 September 2023