Chatham

Pacific • Chatham

New Zealand

Current local time

16:59:12

Sunday, May 31, 2026

UTC offset

UTC+12:45

Status

Standard time

Next transition

September 27, 2026 at 03:45 AM

Daylight saving timeline

Standard time

Chatham toggles between daylight and standard time annually. Clocks spring forward by one hour in 4 months (September 27, 2026 at 03:45 AM).

Standard time since

April 5, 2026 at 02:45 AM

2 months ago

Daylight saving resumes on

September 27, 2026 at 03:45 AM

in 4 months

32% through the current standard time season.

Timezone details

Identifier
Abbreviation
—
Transitioned
April 5, 2026 at 02:45 AM

Location

Latitude
-43.95
Longitude
-176.55
Country
New Zealand

Chatham Standard Time (CHAST)

FAQs

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.

  • 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.