Prevent MySQL changing DATETIME -

i'm having problems reliably saving datetime in mysql. oh simple things!

i can confirm date string sent mysql is:-

'2015-07-18t09:00:00'

yet, when @ saved data within mysql, reports date as:-

2015-07-18 10:00:00

i checked @@global.time_zone, set system, i've changed '+00:00' - has made no difference.

basically, want mysql stop changing dates. want time send, time saved. don't care timezones, dst or way wind blowing.

-- advise saving dates varchar strings?

help appreciated.