New Zealand and some other Pacific states have already started the year 2025.
Already at 11:15 a.m. Central European Time (CET), the new year was ushered in for the Chatham Islands, which are part of New Zealand, and the rest of the country followed 45 minutes later. For the inhabitants of the atoll of Kiritimati, which is part of Kiribati, 2024 had even started at 11 a.m. CET.
In New Zealand’s most populous city, Auckland, the “Sky Tower” had prepared what is likely to be the country’s largest fireworks display, with over 500 kilograms of pyrotechnic material. Here, the “Kiwis” could celebrate at around 18 degrees Celsius and scattered clouds. The fireworks were fired from three launch positions of the tower at an altitude of 200 to 240 meters and lasted about five minutes.
In Sydney, the new year begins at 2 p.m. German time, Tokyo follows at 4 p.m. In Hawaii, the residents have to wait a bit longer: There, the 31st of December only starts at 11 a.m. German time.