diff --git a/lib/wheat/tools.js b/lib/wheat/tools.js
index f3b3839..cb0b4ee 100644
--- a/lib/wheat/tools.js
+++ b/lib/wheat/tools.js
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ var Helpers = {
           value = pad(date.getSeconds()); break;
         case "%u": // milliseconds with leading zeroes
           value = pad(date.getMilliseconds(), 3); break;
+        case "%z": // time zone offset
+          value = getTZOString(date.getTimezoneOffset()); break;
         case "%%": // literal % sign
           value = "\0%\0"; break;
         default: