New Zealand’s largest city welcomed 2025 with a dazzling fireworks display at Auckland’s Sky Tower.
As the clock struck midnight, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland was the first major city in the world to welcome in the New Year.
The five-minute Sky Tower fireworks display, which was the highest in the Southern Hemisphere, began with a 10-second countdown projected on the base of the tower.
More than 500kg of pyrotechnics were launched from three firing sites on levels 55, 61, and 64 of the Sky Tower, positioned between 200m and 240m above ground.
This year’s display was complemented by a nearly 8-minute-long synchronised laser light and animation show “in a tribute to Aotearoa’s diverse celebrations, communities, and landscapes”, alongside visuals projected onto the Harbour Bridge.
Visitors — from near and from around the world — share their wishes for the New Year. (Source: 1News)
SkyCity chief operating officer Callum Mallett said he was “thrilled to bring this beloved tradition back to Auckland”.
“The Sky Tower fireworks are an iconic part of celebrating the New Year in New Zealand and across the globe, bringing communities together to reflect on the year gone by and look ahead to the future.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon marked the New Year by posted a photo of himself and his wife Amanda looking summery and happy at the beach.
Across the Ditch at the next major city to greet the New Year, more than a million people swarmed the main vantage points around Sydney Harbour for the city’s biggest-ever new year extravaganza as millions of dollars of fireworks went up in smoke.
Skies exploded with colour across Australia and revelry continued into the early hours.
Composer Luna Pam debuted her 12-minute underwater-themed fireworks soundtrack at midnight, which rang out alongside skyward explosions and AI projections.
— additional reporting from AAP
