Why is NZ still using the 12 hour clock?

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ScuL

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#175300 24-Jun-2015 12:12

Not intending to stir things up, but I only realised this after living here for a few weeks. Everything still seems to operate in 12 hour AM/PM mode?
Some 225 countries around the world use the 24-hour clock. Is there any sensible reason for NZ to stick to the American system?

Do you operate your digital watches, appliances, computers on 12 hour or 24 hour time?

Having lived in countries that adhere to the 24 hour clock all my life I'm finding this one harder to adjust to than I expected :D

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#1330588 24-Jun-2015 12:15

personally I use 24hour myself, and have all my devices set to that.

but either way I don't see what the big deal is

its not like an imperial vs metric discussion

nathan

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#1330591 24-Jun-2015 12:16

ie its way easier to do the conversion in your head, than to remember what the freezing point or boiling point is in F

muppet

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#1330593 24-Jun-2015 12:17

I really want to use the 24 hour system, but my vintage (purchased it last year, LOL) watchface only has 12 hours of time on it, so it has to "double up" and indicate am/pm. That is, it uses the "2 hours" position for both 2:00 and 14:00.

I must say I haven't seen many of the those 225 countries 24 hours watches, but I'm sure they're cool.

Jase2985

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#1330594 24-Jun-2015 12:17

There are 249 Country Codes in the ISO Standard List:
U.N. Members: 193
U.N. Observer States: 2
States With Partial Recognition: 2
Inhabited Dependent Territories: 45
Uninhabited Territories: 6
Antarctica: 1

I cant see there being 225 using the 24h clock as their primary.

think you got something a little mixed up there

geocom

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#1330597 24-Jun-2015 12:19

Having lived in countries that adhere to the 24 hour clock all my life I'm finding this one harder to adjust to than I expected :D

I think you just answered your own question.

Geoff E

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#1330598 24-Jun-2015 12:20

I'm an Australian.
My parents were English.
I live in New Zealand.
All of these countries use 12-hour time. (except the military and airlines)
Our watches and clocks use 12 hour time.
I don't know anybody who uses 24 hour time.

Get used to it.

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ScuL

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#1330600 24-Jun-2015 12:22

Jase2985: There are 249 Country Codes in the ISO Standard List:
I cant see there being 225 using the 24h clock as their primary.

think you got something a little mixed up there

You can invert it if you like. There are 7 countries in the world that use AM/PM:
United States, Phillippines, New Zealand, Malaysia, India, Canada (Except Quebec), Australia.

Afaik the world has 232 countries, but that is subject to debate. :)

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#1330601 24-Jun-2015 12:22

Sideface: I'm an Australian.

Me too. We're awesome.

dukester

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#1330603 24-Jun-2015 12:24

I set any clock I have to the 24 hour system. My work uses it and I prefer it, absolutely no confusion when using times on the 24 hour system.

Handsomedan

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#1330609 24-Jun-2015 12:28

I use 24hr time.
My wife likes AM/PM
My kids vacillate between one and the other.

Frankly it matters little to me, despite my preference.

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Jase2985

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#1330612 24-Jun-2015 12:31

ScuL:
Jase2985: There are 249 Country Codes in the ISO Standard List:
I cant see there being 225 using the 24h clock as their primary.

think you got something a little mixed up there

You can invert it if you like. There are 7 countries in the world that use AM/PM:
United States, Phillippines, New Zealand, Malaysia, India, Canada (Except Quebec), Australia.
Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/general-u-s/369587-12-hour-24-hour-clock-system.html#ixzz3dvzhUSNZ
Afaik the world has 232 countries, but that is subject to debate. :)

your list of countries is debatable, from a quick Google search it ranges from about 7 to 20 depending on where you look for the info.

how do you define the country using 24h? ive been to a few countries in SE Asia and when i was there everything was in 12h even though looking at most internet sites it says they use 24h time

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#1330614 24-Jun-2015 12:33

ScuL: Not intending to stir things up, but I only realised this after living here for a few weeks. Everything still seems to operate in 12 hour AM/PM mode? ...

That's like asking why the USA hasn't converted to metric weights and measures yet (NZ converted in 1967).

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ScuL

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#1330618 24-Jun-2015 12:34

your list of countries is debatable, from a quick Google search it ranges from about 7 to 20 depending on where you look for the info.

how do you define the country using 24h? ive been to a few countries in SE Asia and when i was there everything was in 12h even though looking at most internet sites it says they use 24h time

Does it matter, it still is an absolute minority on a global perspective?
I would debate that Malaysia uses a 12h system, most of what I've seen there is 24h by now.