Countries across world welcome in the New Year

Resident of small countries, such as Samoa, Kiribati and Tokelau were the first places to welcome in 2012, followed by other countries in the Pacific, New Zealand and Australia with a spectacle of fireworks and colourful celebrations.

In Samoa, thousands of residents and tourists rang in the New Year in the capital, Apia, after enjoying the planned celebrations throughout the day.

About 2,300 kilometres north-east of Apia, 2011 officially came to an end for the 5,000 residents of Christmas (Kiritimati) and for the rest of the population of the Kiribati State islands. 

In Auckland, in New Zealand, the midnight celebrations proved to be a spectacular experience, with more than five minutes worth of fireworks to bring the country into 2012.  

The capital city, Wellington, and in other cities, authorities cancelled ther festivities due to the heavy rain they were experiencing.

In Christchurch, some 3,500 people went to Hagley Park, breaking the tradition to celebrate the New Year in the Cathedral square, which this year was cordoned off and shadowed by construction sites, due to the destruction caused last February’s earthquake.

Just before darkness set in and while the last preparations for the traditional firework show were being finalised, thousands of people were congregated in the centre of Sydney outside the famous Opera House to celebrate the New Year.

Just before darkness set in and while the last preparations for the traditional firework show were being finalised, thousands of people were congregated in the centre of Sydney outside the famous Opera House to celebrate the New Year.

City authorities estimated that around 1.5 million people were celebrating in the Australian city to ring in 2012 and watched the enormous annual firework display, broadcasted across the world.