Tokelau joins Samoa in jump across international dateline
Baku, October 10 (AZERTAC). The tiny South Pacific territory of Tokelau is to follow Samoa`s lead and jump across the international dateline.
Under the move, the island group will become one of the first places on earth to see the new day instead of one of the last.
The switch will put Tokelau, home to 1,400 people and governed by Wellington, one hour ahead of mainland New Zealand.
It is currently 23 hours behind.
Joe Suveinakama, general manager of Tokelau`s National Public Service said: "We usually have a situation where New Zealand calls us on Sunday, their Monday, and there is nobody in our office, and likewise we do call them on our Friday, there is nobody in the office because it is Saturday.
"So we`ll be seeing some very practical benefits in terms of this dateline change."
He told Radio Australia the decision would also keep Tokelau`s three islands in alignment with Samoa, where the territory`s local administration is based.
"Samoa is our only window in terms of getting to the outside world, so we do see some logic in following through with what Samoa has decided."
Samoa announced in May that it would jump the dateline from the western hemisphere to the eastern in a bid to make links easier with Australia and New Zealand, its biggest trading partners.
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