diff --git a/src/lib/components/DateTimePicker.svelte b/src/lib/components/DateTimePicker.svelte
index c806ddb..79835fe 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/DateTimePicker.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/DateTimePicker.svelte
@@ -29,7 +29,9 @@
 
   const seed = untrack(() => {
     if (initialValue) {
-      const d = new Date(initialValue)
+      // Append Z if no timezone indicator is present so it's always parsed as UTC
+      const normalized = /Z$|[+-]\d{2}:?\d{2}$/.test(initialValue) ? initialValue : initialValue + 'Z'
+      const d = new Date(normalized)
       return { month: d.getMonth(), day: d.getDate(), year: d.getFullYear(), timeIndex: d.getHours() * 4 + Math.round(d.getMinutes() / 15) }
     }
     const today = new Date()
@@ -48,10 +50,9 @@
   })
 
   $effect(() => {
-    const pad = (n: number) => n.toString().padStart(2, '0')
     const hour = Math.floor(timeIndex / 4)
     const minute = (timeIndex % 4) * 15
-    value = new Date(`${year}-${pad(month + 1)}-${pad(day)}T${pad(hour)}:${pad(minute)}`).toISOString()
+    value = new Date(year, month, day, hour, minute).toISOString()
   })
 </script>
 
diff --git a/src/lib/utils.ts b/src/lib/utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7ed99ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import type { HuntResponse } from './api/types'
+
+// Ensures API datetime strings are always parsed as UTC, even if the Z suffix is missing.
+export function parseUTC(iso: string): Date {
+  const normalized = /Z$|[+-]\d{2}:?\d{2}$/.test(iso) ? iso : iso + 'Z'
+  return new Date(normalized)
+}
+
+export function huntStatus(hunt: HuntResponse): 'ONGOING' | 'UNSTARTED' | 'CLOSED' {
+  if (hunt.isTerminated) return 'CLOSED'
+  const now = Date.now()
+  if (now < parseUTC(hunt.startDateTime).getTime()) return 'UNSTARTED'
+  if (now > parseUTC(hunt.endDateTime).getTime()) return 'CLOSED'
+  return 'ONGOING'
+}
+
+export function formatDateTime(iso: string): string {
+  return parseUTC(iso).toLocaleDateString(undefined, { month: 'short', day: 'numeric', hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit' })
+}
+
+export function formatDate(iso: string): string {
+  return parseUTC(iso).toLocaleDateString(undefined, { month: 'short', day: 'numeric', year: 'numeric' })
+}
diff --git a/src/routes/admin/AdminHome.svelte b/src/routes/admin/AdminHome.svelte
index 7612248..2e84d45 100644
--- a/src/routes/admin/AdminHome.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/admin/AdminHome.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
     import {push} from 'svelte-spa-router'
     import {auth} from '../../lib/stores/auth.svelte'
+    import {huntStatus, formatDate} from '../../lib/utils'
     import {apiGetAllHunts} from '../../lib/api/index'
     import type {HuntResponse} from '../../lib/api/types'
     import StatusBadge from '../../lib/components/StatusBadge.svelte'
@@ -22,17 +23,6 @@
       .finally(() => { loading = false })
   })
 
-  function huntStatus(h: HuntResponse): 'ONGOING' | 'UNSTARTED' | 'CLOSED' {
-    if (h.isTerminated) return 'CLOSED'
-    const now = Date.now()
-    if (now < new Date(h.startDateTime).getTime()) return 'UNSTARTED'
-    if (now > new Date(h.endDateTime).getTime()) return 'CLOSED'
-    return 'ONGOING'
-  }
-
-  function formatDate(dt: string) {
-    return new Date(dt).toLocaleDateString(undefined, { month: 'short', day: 'numeric', year: 'numeric' })
-  }
 </script>
 
 <div class="p-4 pb-6">
diff --git a/src/routes/admin/HuntManage.svelte b/src/routes/admin/HuntManage.svelte
index 73cc4be..0be607f 100644
--- a/src/routes/admin/HuntManage.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/admin/HuntManage.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
     import {push} from 'svelte-spa-router'
     import {auth} from '../../lib/stores/auth.svelte'
+    import {huntStatus} from '../../lib/utils'
     import {
         apiAddItem,
         apiCreateTeam,
@@ -151,13 +152,6 @@
     }
   }
 
-  function huntStatus(h: HuntResponse): 'ONGOING' | 'UNSTARTED' | 'CLOSED' {
-    if (h.isTerminated) return 'CLOSED'
-    const now = Date.now()
-    if (now < new Date(h.startDateTime).getTime()) return 'UNSTARTED'
-    if (now > new Date(h.endDateTime).getTime()) return 'CLOSED'
-    return 'ONGOING'
-  }
 </script>
 
 <div class="p-4 pb-6">
diff --git a/src/routes/admin/PhotoReview.svelte b/src/routes/admin/PhotoReview.svelte
index a3ec6b3..522a5ed 100644
--- a/src/routes/admin/PhotoReview.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/admin/PhotoReview.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
     import {push} from 'svelte-spa-router'
     import {auth} from '../../lib/stores/auth.svelte'
     import {apiGetHunt, apiGetItemPhotos, apiGetItems, apiListTeams, apiReviewPhoto} from '../../lib/api/index'
+    import {parseUTC} from '../../lib/utils'
     import type {HuntResponse, ItemResponse, PhotoResponse, TeamResponse} from '../../lib/api/types'
     import StatusBadge from '../../lib/components/StatusBadge.svelte'
     import AuthImage from '../../lib/components/AuthImage.svelte'
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@
     <div class="flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-3 shrink-0">
       <div>
         <p class="font-semibold text-white">{photo.hunterName} <span class="text-white/50 font-normal">· {photo.teamName}</span></p>
-        <p class="text-xs text-white/40">{new Date(photo.photoUploadDateTime).toLocaleString()}</p>
+        <p class="text-xs text-white/40">{parseUTC(photo.photoUploadDateTime).toLocaleString()}</p>
       </div>
       <div class="flex items-center gap-3">
         <StatusBadge status={photo.photoStatus} />
@@ -181,7 +182,7 @@
                   <div>
                     <p class="font-semibold">{photo.hunterName} <span class="text-base-content/50 font-normal">· {photo.teamName}</span></p>
                     <p class="text-xs text-base-content/50">
-                      {new Date(photo.photoUploadDateTime).toLocaleString()}
+                      {parseUTC(photo.photoUploadDateTime).toLocaleString()}
                     </p>
                   </div>
                   <StatusBadge status={photo.photoStatus} />
diff --git a/src/routes/hunter/HuntList.svelte b/src/routes/hunter/HuntList.svelte
index 00a6793..ed32eb8 100644
--- a/src/routes/hunter/HuntList.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/hunter/HuntList.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import {push} from 'svelte-spa-router'
   import {auth} from '../../lib/stores/auth.svelte'
+  import {huntStatus, formatDateTime} from '../../lib/utils'
   import {
     apiCreateTeam,
     apiGetHunterTeam,
@@ -127,19 +128,6 @@
 
   // ── Helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-  function huntStatus(hunt: HuntResponse): 'ONGOING' | 'UNSTARTED' | 'CLOSED' {
-    if (hunt.isTerminated) return 'CLOSED'
-    const now   = Date.now()
-    const start = new Date(hunt.startDateTime).getTime()
-    const end   = new Date(hunt.endDateTime).getTime()
-    if (now < start) return 'UNSTARTED'
-    if (now > end)   return 'CLOSED'
-    return 'ONGOING'
-  }
-
-  function formatDate(dt: string) {
-    return new Date(dt).toLocaleDateString(undefined, { month: 'short', day: 'numeric', hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit' })
-  }
 </script>
 
 <div class="p-4 pb-20">
@@ -184,7 +172,7 @@
                   <StatusBadge status={huntStatus(hunt)} />
                 </div>
                 <p class="text-xs text-base-content/50">
-                  {formatDate(hunt.startDateTime)} – {formatDate(hunt.endDateTime)}
+                  {formatDateTime(hunt.startDateTime)} – {formatDateTime(hunt.endDateTime)}
                 </p>
               </div>
             </button>
@@ -212,7 +200,7 @@
                   <StatusBadge status={huntStatus(hunt)} />
                 </div>
                 <p class="text-xs text-base-content/50">
-                  {formatDate(hunt.startDateTime)} – {formatDate(hunt.endDateTime)}
+                  {formatDateTime(hunt.startDateTime)} – {formatDateTime(hunt.endDateTime)}
                 </p>
                 {#if myTeam}
                   <p class="text-sm font-medium text-primary">Team: {myTeam.name}</p>
@@ -236,7 +224,7 @@
     <div class="p-4 border-b border-base-200 flex items-center justify-between sticky top-0 bg-base-100">
       <div>
         <h3 class="font-bold text-lg">{sheetHunt.title}</h3>
-        <p class="text-xs text-base-content/50">{formatDate(sheetHunt.startDateTime)} – {formatDate(sheetHunt.endDateTime)}</p>
+        <p class="text-xs text-base-content/50">{formatDateTime(sheetHunt.startDateTime)} – {formatDateTime(sheetHunt.endDateTime)}</p>
       </div>
       <button class="btn btn-ghost btn-sm btn-circle" onclick={closeSheet}>✕</button>
     </div>
diff --git a/src/routes/hunter/HuntLobby.svelte b/src/routes/hunter/HuntLobby.svelte
index e197767..45f3dba 100644
--- a/src/routes/hunter/HuntLobby.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/hunter/HuntLobby.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
     import {push} from 'svelte-spa-router'
     import {fade} from 'svelte/transition'
     import {auth} from '../../lib/stores/auth.svelte'
+    import {huntStatus, parseUTC} from '../../lib/utils'
     import {
         apiCreateTeam,
         apiGetHunt,
@@ -163,13 +164,6 @@
     }
   }
 
-  function huntStatus(h: HuntResponse): 'ONGOING' | 'UNSTARTED' | 'CLOSED' {
-    if (h.isTerminated) return 'CLOSED'
-    const now = Date.now()
-    if (now < new Date(h.startDateTime).getTime()) return 'UNSTARTED'
-    if (now > new Date(h.endDateTime).getTime()) return 'CLOSED'
-    return 'ONGOING'
-  }
 
   const approved  = $derived(Object.values(itemStatuses).filter(s => s.itemFoundStatus === 'APPROVED').length)
   const submitted = $derived(Object.values(itemStatuses).filter(s => s.itemFoundStatus === 'SUBMITTED').length)
@@ -414,7 +408,7 @@
     <div class="flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-3 shrink-0">
       <div>
         <p class="font-semibold text-white">{photo.hunterName}</p>
-        <p class="text-xs text-white/40">{new Date(photo.photoUploadDateTime).toLocaleString()}</p>
+        <p class="text-xs text-white/40">{parseUTC(photo.photoUploadDateTime).toLocaleString()}</p>
       </div>
       <div class="flex items-center gap-3">
         <StatusBadge status={photo.photoStatus} />