Samoa Time Change, Nation Skipping December 30
South Pacific nation Samoa and a territory of New Zealand, Tokelau, will skip Dec. 30 to enable simpler international trade practices.
The neighboring pacific regions will jump directly from Dec. 29 to Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve at midnight to ease current trading issues with Australia and New Zealand, according to The Associated Press.
"In doing business with New Zealand and Australia, we're losing out on two working days a week ... While it's Friday here, it's Saturday in New Zealand, and when we're at church on Sunday, they're already conducting business in Sydney and Brisbane," Samoan Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi said in a statement.
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"Today we do a lot more business with New Zealand and Australia, China and Pacific Rim countries such as Singapore," Malielegaoi added, insisting that the change will make trade practices "far, far easier."
In June, the Samoan government passed a law approving the time warp, almost 119 years after Samoan officials agreed to adjust their time to that of the U.S. for simpler trading practices with California.
The U.S. convinced the tiny nation to align its time with that of American Samoa also, making Samoa and Toklau 24 hours ahead of its most valuable international trading partners.
The shift in time became a huge economic issue, and by pushing Samoa west of the international dateline, international trade with Australia and New Zealand will be made much simpler.
While there has been little objection from both Samoan and Toklau locals, a Seventh Day Adventist Church has indicated that the time change poses a problem. The Samoan congregation traditionally celebrates the Sabbath on a Friday, and this year Dec. 30 falls on a Friday.
Located in Samoa's Samatau village, the parish has no choice but to instead begin its celebrations on the Saturday.
Samoa has a population of approximately 185,000, while Tokelau's population is estimated at 1500.
Both are reported to be predominantly Christian in faith, with 98 percent of Samoans identifying themselves as Christian.
Tokolau's economy is reported to be the smallest in the world, with an annual purchasing power of approximately $1,000 per capita.
Under law, employees who otherwise would have worked on Dec. 30 will still be paid.
