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Happy New Year: New Zealand marks the start of 2016 with Sky Tower firework display

Emma Henderson
Thursday 31 December 2015 15:46 GMT
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The world has begun welcoming in the New Year, with New Zealand the first major country to see in 2016.

Revellers counted down the seconds to midnight with a giant digital clock on Auckland’s landmark Sky Tower.

At midnight, horns blared and crowds cheered as the tower was then lit up with fireworks, with colours shifting from red to white.

Many revellers caught the celebrations on camera and shared them on social media.

Sydney takes its position as one of the first major cities in the world to ring in each new year seriously.

More than one million people are gathering along the famed harbour to watch a glittery display featuring a multicoloured firework “waterfall” cascading off the Harbour Bridge and pyrotechnic effects in the shapes of butterflies, octopuses and flowers.

Most countries are unfazed by worries of further terrorism attacks, but Brussels have cancelled their celebrations due to an alert.

London, Pairs, Berlin and Moscow are taking extra measures, but will carry in with their celebrations as planned.

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