MEDIA RELEASE : MARCH 2006

For Immediate Release

General Distribution

14th March 2006

Tourism Operators Say Daylight Saving Should Be Extended

New Zealand Tourism Online www.tourism.net.nz recently conducted a survey of tourism operators throughout the country to obtain their views about daylight saving. They were asked to vote if they believed daylight saving should be extended through to the second Sunday in April and what the benefits were. Daylight saving currently finishes on the third Sunday in March.

Daylight saving has been in place since 1974. In 1985, the Department of Internal Affairs undertook a comprehensive survey of public attitudes towards daylight saving and its effects on work, recreation and society. The results of the survey showed that 76% of the population wanted daylight saving either continued or extended.

In 1988, as a consequence of the survey and further feedback from the public, the Minister of Internal Affairs arranged for a trial period of extended daylight saving to be held from the second Sunday in October to the third Sunday in March. The Minister invited the public to write to him with their views on the five week extension.

Again the public response was generally favourable and in 1990 daylight saving commenced on the first Sunday in October each year and ceased on the third Sunday in March.

Like the previous positive feedback and survey results by the Department of Internal affairs, the New Zealand Tourism Online survey resulted in 92% of respondents in favour of extending the daylight saving period. Many tourism operators felt the main benefit would be extended daylight hours for visitors to enjoy the country, with some attractions even being able to extend their operating hours.

Garry Bond, New Zealand Tourism Online's General Manager also feels that it's time to revisit daylight saving. "Often when daylight saving finishes, there is a feeling that winter is about to set in", says Garry, "and with good weather in March and April, tourism operators would benefit from an extended season. I'm sure people outside the industry would still love to be able to enjoy the daylight hours with their families for a bit longer."

New Zealand Tourism Online has contacted TIANZ to see if they can further the case for an extended period for daylight saving.

Ends

More Information

Proposed Extension to Daylight Saving Hours

Don't you think the extra three weeks worth of daylight saving is a good idea? We feel that overall the industry would benefit from extending the period through until the 2nd weekend in April. Read more about it.