diff --git a/src/models/index.js b/src/models/index.js
index f69cbfd..15b6226 100644
--- a/src/models/index.js
+++ b/src/models/index.js
@@ -224,12 +224,12 @@ const Hunts = {
 
   isHidden(hunt) {
     if (!hunt.hidden_until_start || !hunt.start_date) return false;
-    return new Date(hunt.start_date + 'Z') > new Date();
+    return new Date(hunt.start_date) > new Date();
   },
 
   hasStarted(hunt) {
     if (!hunt.start_date) return true;
-    return new Date(hunt.start_date + 'Z') <= new Date();
+    return new Date(hunt.start_date) <= new Date();
   },
 
   resetScans(id) {
diff --git a/src/views/admin/create-hunt.ejs b/src/views/admin/create-hunt.ejs
index a3db4f8..91c9daf 100644
--- a/src/views/admin/create-hunt.ejs
+++ b/src/views/admin/create-hunt.ejs
@@ -57,4 +57,17 @@
   </div>
 </div>
 
+<script>
+// Convert datetime-local (user's local time) to UTC ISO before submit
+document.querySelector('form').addEventListener('submit', function() {
+  ['start_date', 'expiry_date'].forEach(function(name) {
+    var input = document.getElementById(name);
+    if (input && input.value) {
+      var d = new Date(input.value);
+      if (!isNaN(d)) input.value = d.toISOString();
+    }
+  });
+});
+</script>
+
 <%- include('../partials/footer') %>
diff --git a/src/views/admin/dashboard.ejs b/src/views/admin/dashboard.ejs
index a352678..ad511c0 100644
--- a/src/views/admin/dashboard.ejs
+++ b/src/views/admin/dashboard.ejs
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@
           </span>
         </div>
         <div style="display: flex; gap: 0.4rem; align-items: center;">
-          <% if (hunt.hidden_until_start && hunt.start_date && new Date(hunt.start_date + 'Z') > new Date()) { %>
+          <% if (hunt.hidden_until_start && hunt.start_date && new Date(hunt.start_date) > new Date()) { %>
             <span class="badge expired" style="font-size: 0.7rem;">Hidden</span>
-          <% } else if (hunt.start_date && new Date(hunt.start_date + 'Z') > new Date()) { %>
+          <% } else if (hunt.start_date && new Date(hunt.start_date) > new Date()) { %>
             <span class="badge" style="font-size: 0.7rem;">Upcoming</span>
           <% } %>
           <span class="badge">Manage</span>
diff --git a/src/views/admin/edit-hunt.ejs b/src/views/admin/edit-hunt.ejs
index a718d60..a558261 100644
--- a/src/views/admin/edit-hunt.ejs
+++ b/src/views/admin/edit-hunt.ejs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
       <div class="form-group">
         <label for="start_date">Start Date (optional)</label>
         <input type="datetime-local" id="start_date" name="start_date" class="form-control"
-               value="<%= hunt.start_date ? new Date(hunt.start_date).toISOString().slice(0, 16) : '' %>">
+               data-utc="<%= hunt.start_date || '' %>">
         <div class="form-hint">When the hunt becomes active. Leave blank to start immediately.</div>
       </div>
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
       <div class="form-group">
         <label for="expiry_date">Expiry Date (optional)</label>
         <input type="datetime-local" id="expiry_date" name="expiry_date" class="form-control"
-               value="<%= hunt.expiry_date ? new Date(hunt.expiry_date).toISOString().slice(0, 16) : '' %>">
+               data-utc="<%= hunt.expiry_date || '' %>">
         <div class="form-hint">Leave blank for no expiry.</div>
       </div>
 
@@ -53,6 +53,30 @@
     </form>
   </div>
 
+<script>
+// Populate datetime-local inputs from stored UTC values (convert to local)
+document.querySelectorAll('input[data-utc]').forEach(function(input) {
+  var utc = input.dataset.utc;
+  if (utc) {
+    var d = new Date(utc);
+    if (!isNaN(d)) {
+      var local = new Date(d.getTime() - d.getTimezoneOffset() * 60000);
+      input.value = local.toISOString().slice(0, 16);
+    }
+  }
+});
+// Convert datetime-local (user's local time) to UTC ISO before submit
+document.querySelector('form').addEventListener('submit', function() {
+  ['start_date', 'expiry_date'].forEach(function(name) {
+    var input = document.getElementById(name);
+    if (input && input.value) {
+      var d = new Date(input.value);
+      if (!isNaN(d)) input.value = d.toISOString();
+    }
+  });
+});
+</script>
+
   <div class="card" style="border: 2px solid var(--danger); margin-top: 1.5rem;">
     <div class="card-header" style="color: var(--danger);">Danger Zone</div>
 
diff --git a/src/views/home.ejs b/src/views/home.ejs
index 484090f..d977967 100644
--- a/src/views/home.ejs
+++ b/src/views/home.ejs
@@ -56,9 +56,9 @@
             <% if (hunt.expiry_date) { %> &middot; Expires <time datetime="<%= hunt.expiry_date %>"><%= new Date(hunt.expiry_date).toLocaleDateString() %></time><% } %>
           </span>
         </div>
-        <% if (hunt.expiry_date && new Date(hunt.expiry_date + 'Z') < new Date()) { %>
+        <% if (hunt.expiry_date && new Date(hunt.expiry_date) < new Date()) { %>
           <span class="badge expired">Expired</span>
-        <% } else if (hunt.start_date && new Date(hunt.start_date + 'Z') > new Date()) { %>
+        <% } else if (hunt.start_date && new Date(hunt.start_date) > new Date()) { %>
           <span class="badge">Upcoming</span>
         <% } else { %>
           <span class="badge"><%= hunt.package_count %> packages</span>
diff --git a/src/views/hunt/list.ejs b/src/views/hunt/list.ejs
index 9bdda7f..f4400a4 100644
--- a/src/views/hunt/list.ejs
+++ b/src/views/hunt/list.ejs
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@
             <% if (hunt.expiry_date) { %>
               &middot; Expires <time datetime="<%= hunt.expiry_date %>"><%= new Date(hunt.expiry_date).toLocaleDateString() %></time>
             <% } %>
-            <% if (hunt.start_date && new Date(hunt.start_date + 'Z') > new Date()) { %>
+            <% if (hunt.start_date && new Date(hunt.start_date) > new Date()) { %>
               &middot; Starts <time datetime="<%= hunt.start_date %>"><%= new Date(hunt.start_date).toLocaleDateString() %></time>
             <% } %>
           </span>
         </div>
-        <% if (hunt.expiry_date && new Date(hunt.expiry_date + 'Z') < new Date()) { %>
+        <% if (hunt.expiry_date && new Date(hunt.expiry_date) < new Date()) { %>
           <span class="badge expired">Expired</span>
-        <% } else if (hunt.start_date && new Date(hunt.start_date + 'Z') > new Date()) { %>
+        <% } else if (hunt.start_date && new Date(hunt.start_date) > new Date()) { %>
           <span class="badge">Upcoming</span>
         <% } else { %>
           <span class="badge"><%= hunt.package_count %> packages</span>