Weather Watch: Daylight saving splits spring-time sentiments

Herald on Sunday

1 Oct, 2011 04:30 PM3 mins to read

The clock adjustment puts rural early-risers back in the dark. Photo / Alan Gibson

Whether you're watching the United States election or just talking about daylight saving, here in New Zealand one thing is clear - people are often split 50/50 on topics.

Last weekend Don Brash suggested decriminalising marijuana - a Herald poll asking how you felt about that was pretty 50/50. Another poll asked if you had used your mobile phone while driving since it became illegal to do so, after a policeman was photographed texting and driving last week - again a nearly 50/50 result.

In US politics, President Barack Obama has about 49 per cent support while the opposing Republican party has just a little less than that.

It's amazing that with all the different people and opinions out there, we are split 50/50 on topics more often than not. So I guess it doesn't come as a surprise that nearly half of WeatherWatch.co.nz readers who took part in a daylight saving poll don't like the earlier start time. Forget pleasing everyone all of the time - society struggles to please even half of us!

About 46 per cent of readers who took part in the online poll said they thought the September time was "perfect". But the other 54 per cent didn't agree. About 35 per cent said the start time was "too early", with many readers suggesting Labour Weekend as a better option.

But why is that? Surely many like the extra hour of sunlight after work? Well, it seems many find that extra hour fairly useless at this time of the year.

It boils down to the fact that springing your clocks forward an hour at this time of the year means we go back to the dark, wintry wake-ups, while the evenings are still too cold to really enjoy that extra weak sunlight.

About 15 per cent said we shouldn't even observe daylight saving.

"Being part of the farming community, I know first-hand that the early start to daylight saving puts rural early-risers back in the dark just when the mornings are starting to get lighter.

"While I understand urban dwellers get good leisure benefits, more consideration should be shown to other people in the community," wrote Steve. Matthew Hintzen wrote: "In my opinion, NZ should move to GMT+13 all year round, just seems to fit our modern lifestyle a whole lot better!"