[Lara Croft]

I wondered as I came home tonight, how long the days are in the middle of winter (here in NZ)?

Is it like in the UK, that you go to work in the dark, and come home in the dark? Or are we closer to the Equator here?

Probably a silly question...

Jane

[benandclare]

This should help Jane

http://www.rasnz.org.nz/SRSStimes.htm

[Familyofmonkeys]

Doesn't feel massively different here in Auckland....slightly longer hours of daylight....but not so different that I really noticed!

[IanW99]

I wondered as I came home tonight, how long the days are in the middle of winter (here in NZ)?

Is it like in the UK, that you go to work in the dark, and come home in the dark? Or are we closer to the Equator here?

Probably a silly question...

Jane

Simple answer is that in winter the days are longer than they would be in the UK (for the equivalent time of year) and in the summer, the days are shorter than they would be in the UK.

Ian

[jenelopy]

I found the graph on this website very helpful for comparing places:

Where I will be in NZ:
http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/lower-hutt.html

Where I have been in the UK:
http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/liverpool.html

I'm very excited by the longer days in winter :)

[Lara Croft]

Blimey Ian... you are a font of knowledge on all subjects! I don't think I've seen a question yet that you can't answer.... :)

Thanks folks,
Jane

[migratory birds]

check the following for sun/moon rise/set times. Also has a great time converter to make sure you make international phone dates on time!

http://timeanddate.com/worldclock/sunrise.html

[Potato]

The Uk runs from latitude 50 to about 59.
NZ runs from latitude 34 to about 48.
(All roughly speaking).

Hence, even Invercargill will have longer winter days than anywhere in the UK. But likewise, nowhere in NZ will have summer days that are as long as in the UK.

I think in Wellington it works out that the shortest day is equivalent in length to Feb 4th in the south of England. So, not exactly light but not too bad. But, usually by the start of February in the UK we begin to notice that the days are getting a bit longer.

Also, remember that NZ has an extra 30 mins of daylight savings which is in operation all year. This is because our time zone does not quite align with our longitude. The effect of this is that the sun sets 30mins later throughout the year than it otherwise would, whilst sunrise is also 30mins later. The good thing is that it means in Wellington the sun never actually sets before 5PM, even in the depths of winter.

[Sam B]

Defo not as dark and depressing as the uk in winter. Love it