Time to change your clocks and check those smoke alarms!
Daylight saving time ended in New Zealand at 3am on Sunday, April 6, 2025. People were reminded to set their clocks back by one hour before going to bed on Saturday night. While many phones and computers change time automatically, household clocks and watches might still need to be changed by hand.
Clocks will “spring forward” again later this year—at 2am on Sunday, September 28, 2025—when daylight saving begins once more.
Fire and Emergency also used the time change to remind everyone to check their smoke alarms. “Push the button on each alarm,” said community safety expert Tom Ronaldson. “That beep means your home is safer while you sleep.”
Daylight saving time was first introduced during World War I to help save fuel. The idea was later supported by New Zealand scientist George Hudson, who believed afternoon sunlight was more useful than morning light. Today, about 70 countries use daylight saving time.
However, experts say changing the clocks twice a year can confuse our body clocks. These internal “biological clocks” help us know when to sleep, eat, and feel alert. Moving time forward or backward can make people feel tired and out of sync.
Some scientists believe we should keep the same time all year to stay healthier. But for now, don’t forget: clocks go forward in spring and back in autumn—spring forward, fall back!
