New Zealand daylight saving time (DST) is being extended. See the New Zealand official announcement.
DST will start one week earlier than usual on 30 September 2007 instead of the first Sunday in October and it will end two weeks later on the 6 April 2008 instead of the third Sunday in March. Systems and applications that process dates and times will be affected by this change.
Systems and applications in countries not implementing the DST changes could be affected if they support users, transactions, or applications involving countries that are implementing the new DST rules. For example, scheduling or synchronizing problems may arise where systems make or check date or time stamps relating to transactions in other countries, or there may be difficulty in applications that perform scheduling calculations.
Solution
Many systems and applications can be changed now. This site will help you find the necessary information for affected products, so that you can plan updates to help reduce the risk of application and system problems resulting from this DST change.
Operating System changes
It is important to make sure that the operating system has the correct DST rules. In most cases you can manually update the DST rules on your system. Follow the links for additional information:
- AIX®
- Linux® for System z™, System p™, System i™, or System x™- information will be updated when available
- i5/OS®
- z/OS®, z/OS.e, and OS/390® - no changes are required
- Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) - information will be updated when available
- TPF - no changes are required
- z/VM® - no changes are required
- z/VSE™ - no changes are required
- Windows®
- Sun
- HP-UX
Java Changes
Many user applications and middleware software products depend upon the time handling functions provided by Java. Since many IBM products deliver a version of Java as part of the package, you will normally have a number of versions of Java installed on your systems and you will need to make updates. The IBM Centre for Java Technology Development has produced a tool to adjust Daylight Saving Time rules.
The IBM Time Zone Update Utility for Java (JTZU) updates the time zone information in IBM supplied releases and service refreshes of the Java SDK and JRE. It provides a method of applying preventive service to IBM products that imbed the Java SDK or JRE. It avoids the need to carry out a total replacement of the SDK or JRE and executes independently of any Fix Packs or Service Packs supplied by IBM products. It will update only the time zone information and apply no other fixes.
Updated versions of JTZU (Version 1.3.7f and 1.3.7g), which contain the new rules for New Zealand DST are now available for download on IBM developerWorks
If your SDK or JRE was downloaded from IBM developerWorks or supplied by a Linux distributor, you can also install the latest Java service refresh. For Java 5.0, SR5 includes the changes for New Zealand and for Java 1.4.2, you will require SR9. See DST updates in IBM-delivered Service Refreshes of Java SDKs and JREs for more information. Download Java from developerWorks
International Components for Unicode (ICU)
For generic information and update instructions for ICU4C and ICU4J, please refer the ICU User Guide.
ICU time zone data version 2007f contains the new rule for New Zealand. There are multiple versions of data files available under the download directory. ICU users are recommended to read the ICU User Guide page to download the right one for the target platform.
ICU4J users can alternatively use ICU4J Time Zone Update Utility (ICUTZU), which simplify the update steps:
ICU4J plug-in has been bundled with Eclipse since Eclipse version 3.2. ICU4J plug-in users should not apply the standard update instruction described above. ICU development provides the latest time zone patch through the Eclipse software update site. Eclipse 3.2.2 RCP patch 3 and Eclipse 3.3 RCP patch 1 contain the ICU time zone data version 2007f.
IBM software products
Any application or middleware that provides calendaring or scheduling functions will need to know the right DST rules. While many depend on Java, some products may require additional actions. Refer to the following for additional guidance on preparing for the New Zealand DST changes.
Information Management
Any changes in DST rules, including these upcoming changes for New Zealand, require that the Java runtime used by DB2® be upgraded to a level that supports the new changes. DB2 customers can upgrade the JDK according to the IBM Java Technology Center's recommendation.
Changes to daylight saving time (DST) affect IBM DB2 products
Changes to daylight saving time (DST) affect IBM Informix Dynamic Server
Lotus
Tivoli
Definition of a Knowledge Collection
A Knowledge Collection is a focused compilation of links to documents that share a common theme. Knowledge Collections are navigation aids that organize content to help users quickly find relevant information. Knowledge Collections are not designed to be an all-inclusive list of all documents dealing with the specific theme
Finding more information
The links provided in the previous sections should correct most of the things that could cause you problems in your systems. We are also using the keyword "NZDST07" in flashes and technical documents which may assist you in finding information on recommended fixes.
Australia Daylight Saving Time
IBM is aware that several states in Australia (Australia Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Austrailia) plan to harmonize the start and end dates for Daylight Saving time beginning in April 2008. IBM will publish information to support these proposed changes after they become official.
Change history
- Initial publish: 4 September 2007
- Updated dates in overview: 11 September 2007
- Added operating system details: 12 September 2007
- Added link in Information Management for Informix: 17 September 2007
- Updated ICU links: 20 September 2007
- Updated JTZU and ICU section: 24 September 2007
