KEY POINTS:
New Zealand looks likely to get an extension to daylight saving. The Cabinet is soon to consider options for a longer period of daylight saving, which could begin as early as next summer.
Among the options is the idea to keep the country's clocks permanently forward by an hour. Another is to start daylight saving earlier in spring and end it later in autumn.
It now starts on the first Sunday in October and ends on the third Sunday in March - this year March 18, a week tomorrow.
Supporters of the extension say it would help the economy, encourage tourism and even make people happier.
Lobbying for more daylight saving time has been intense in recent months, triggered by an inclement start to summer.
As many as 30,000 signatures are on a petition demanding three more weeks of daylight saving time.
Dairy farmers have previously resisted alterations to daylight saving, saying the change to the clocks plays havoc with milking herds.
But Federated Farmers president Charlie Pedersen this week said changes were unlikely to be opposed, as long as any extensions came at the end of summer, rather than in late spring.
"The extension is of little concern. Farmers enjoy the benefits of barbecues and long summer evenings just like everybody else.
"The only group affected is dairy farmers, and even then it's only at the beginning of the season."
The push for change, which does not need a new law, has been given impetus by petition organisers United Future leader Peter Dunne and Nelson City councillor Mark Holmes.
Mr Dunne said: "There are quite a few options on the table, and a decision looks likely to be made sooner rather than later."
He was very confident of a "favourable outcome".
Internal Affairs officials have been investigating the issue and are believed to have consulted the ministries of energy, agriculture and fisheries, education and transport.
Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker said: "The main thing is that we're on the ball and we're dealing with the issue."
He would not discuss the options but noted that one group that could be disadvantaged by an extension would be early-morning workers.
Supporters of a daylight saving extension say it will result in increased tourism dollars, energy savings and social good.
Mr Holmes said the $17 billion tourism industry was a strong advocate for change and was "100 per cent behind it".
A significant but intangible social benefit would also come from the increased hours of daylight available for evening recreation.
Victoria University psychology senior lecturer John McDowell said people would be happier if summer evenings were extended.
Working parents were able to spend more time outdoors with their children, and summer sporting pursuits could be carried on longer.
At the start of daylight saving time each year, clocks go forward an hour, meaning people spend more of their waking day in daylight and creating the impression of longer evenings.
New Zealand has 24 weeks of daylight saving time, compared with 33 weeks in Canada and the United States and 31 weeks in Europe, including Britain.
North America starts its daylight saving this weekend.
Long, long day
* Farmers and parents of hyperactive children may not like it, but hanging on to an extra hour of light in the evening should please more people than not.
* Twilight sports teams and gardeners will enjoy the longer summer evenings, and energy will be saved if lights stay off.
