Media statement
For immediate release
Friday, 31 March 2006

Dunne: More daylight saving a good thing?

United Future leader Peter Dunne has lent his party's support to an initiative that would consider an extension to daylight saving.

Nelson City Councillor Mark Holmes is campaigning to add three weeks to daylight saving, an extra week in October and another two at the end of the period in March.

"The word on the street, and the sentiment of many people that I have spoken to is that the third Sunday of March is too early to set the clocks back," said Mr Dunne.

"United Future supports the intentions of Cr Holmes and we believe that a three week extension to the period of daylight saving would be welcomed by most New Zealanders.

"I understand the concerns of the rural community and particularly dairy farmers who do suffer through the early starts necessary under daylight saving but I think that the general sentiment across the wider community is supportive of the extension."

A recent opinion poll on the stuff.co.nz website showed that 72 percent of nearly 7000 respondents were in favour of an extension to daylight saving.

According to Mr Dunne, "the long, lazy days of summer are an iconic part of New Zealand life. It is a real privilege to finish work then be able to take your children for a bike ride, go for a walk through the gardens or enjoy a barbeque on a long, sunny evening.

"The precedent certainly exists for an extension; Tasmania has 25 weeks, Britain 29 weeks, while New Zealand presently has only 24 weeks of daylight saving per year," concluded Mr Dunne.

Ends

© Scoop Media