Time zone · Oceania
CHAST
Chatham Standard Time
Chatham Standard Time (CHAST) is used by the remote Chatham Islands of New Zealand, one of the few places on Earth with a 45‑minute offset from UTC. Life here blends Pacific island rhythms with a uniquely offset clock that stands out even among the country’s other time changes.
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Current offset
UTC+12:45
Standard · +1245
Daylight saving
Not active
Returns 27 Sept 2026
IANA zones
1
1 observe DST, 0 don't
DST offset
UTC+13:45
CHADT · +1h
About CHAST
Standard time, with a summer shift.
Chatham Standard Time (CHAST) is used by the remote Chatham Islands of New Zealand, one of the few places on Earth with a 45‑minute offset from UTC. Life here blends Pacific island rhythms with a uniquely offset clock that stands out even among the country’s other time changes.
DST schedule · CHAST · CHADT
2026 Sunday · clocks spring forward
Clocks spring forward by one hour · in 4 months.
One year, two clocks
IANA zones · the technical identifiers
The zone that resolve to CHAST.
For software, always store the IANA identifier — never the abbreviation alone. The database keeps these zones distinct because their rules can, and historically did, diverge.
Where CHAST is used
One country.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about CHAST, daylight saving, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].
- How many time zones use a 45‑minute offset in the world?
- Only a handful, and Chatham Islands is one of the most notable, making CHAST a rare clock setting where the hour doesn’t neatly line up with the usual whole‑hour differences.
- Why do the Chatham Islands have a 45‑minute offset from UTC?
- Geographically, they lie just east of the main New Zealand islands, west of the International Date Line. Historically, this led locals to adopt their own time that sits midway between neighboring zones, formalized as CHAST.
- Do the Chatham Islands use daylight saving time too?
- Yes. Like New Zealand, the Chatham Islands observe daylight shifting, adding an extra layer to the already unusual base offset.
- Is CHAST unique to the Chatham Islands?
- Within this region code, yes: CHAST specifically refers to the Pacific/Chatham zone in New Zealand and is not shared with any other part of the world at the same formal code.
- How does CHAST affect daily life and communication with mainland New Zealand?
- It means a 45‑minute difference from the main islands, so locals schedule calls, flights, and broadcasts with those extra minutes in mind, giving every day a slightly “offbeat” timing feel.
- When does CHAST move clocks forward or back?
- The shifts follow New Zealand’s daylight saving rules, so clocks move at specific local dates and times rather than on fixed calendar days around the globe.
- Why is a 45‑minute offset interesting for travelers?
- Most travelers rarely encounter half‑hour, let alone quarter‑hour, offsets, so arriving in Chatham Islands is a reminder that borders, geography, and history don’t always follow neat numbers.
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