Longest and shortest day in Christchurch
In Christchurch, New Zealand, the longest day of 2026 is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 15h 26m of daylight, and the shortest is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 8h 56m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 07:30 | 19:43 | 12h 14m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 08:02 | 16:59 | 8h 56m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:19 | 18:25 | 12h 6m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 05:43 | 21:09 | 15h 26m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:05 | 21:10 | 15h 6m |
| February | 06:47 | 20:39 | 13h 52m |
| March | 07:23 | 19:53 | 12h 30m |
| April | 07:01 | 17:56 | 10h 55m |
| May | 07:35 | 17:15 | 9h 40m |
| June | 08:00 | 16:58 | 8h 58m |
| July | 07:58 | 17:12 | 9h 14m |
| August | 07:24 | 17:43 | 10h 19m |
| September | 06:32 | 18:17 | 11h 45m |
| October | 06:40 | 19:51 | 13h 11m |
| November | 05:56 | 20:32 | 14h 36m |
| December | 05:42 | 21:05 | 15h 24m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Christchurch
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Christchurch leans toward the Sun for part of the year and away for the rest. When it leans toward the Sun the days lengthen and the Sun climbs higher; half a year later the opposite happens. The size of the swing depends on how far Christchurch sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Christchurch
When is the longest day in Christchurch?
The longest day in Christchurch falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 15h 26m of daylight, sunrise at 05:43 and sunset at 21:09.
When is the shortest day in Christchurch?
The shortest day in Christchurch falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 8h 56m of daylight, sunrise at 08:02 and sunset at 16:59.
How much does day length change through the year in Christchurch?
Between the longest and shortest day, Christchurch gains and loses about 6h 30m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Christchurch's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.