Key Takeaways
- New Year’s celebrations took place across New Zealand, despite dreary weather in many regions.
- Auckland’s Sky Tower featured a fireworks display with 3500 individual shots launched at midnight.
- The fireworks display was the result of six months of planning and design work.
- Other cities, such as Wellington, also held New Year’s celebrations, including live performances, street eats, and parades.
- The celebrations were marked by a sense of hope and optimism for the new year, with many people expressing wishes for kindness, love, and happiness.
Introduction to New Year’s Celebrations
New Year’s celebrations were in full swing across New Zealand, with many regions welcoming the start of a new year despite the dreary weather. In Christchurch, children were among the first to celebrate, with a mock countdown and fireworks display at North Hagley Park. The event, which was alcohol-free, featured performances by headline act Kora and DJs, and was followed by an "epic" fireworks display. In Dunedin, the city’s Scottish heritage was on display, with a piper playing to see in the new year at a party in the Octagon.
Auckland’s Sky Tower Fireworks
In Auckland, the Sky Tower was the focal point of the city’s New Year’s celebrations, with a massive fireworks display that launched 3500 individual shots at midnight. The display was the result of six months of planning and design work, and was set to go ahead despite a severe thunderstorm warning that had been issued for the area. The storms, which brought heavy rain and strong winds, had threatened to disrupt the display, but fortunately, the weather cleared in time for the fireworks to go ahead. Rob McDermott from Pyrostar International, the company responsible for the display, said that the team had been monitoring the weather closely and were confident that the display would go ahead as planned.
Preparations for the Fireworks Display
The preparations for the fireworks display were extensive, with a team of five pyrotechnicians and eight SkyCity riggers working together to set up the equipment. The team had to contend with 1.6 tonnes of equipment and 14 kilometres of cabling, but were able to complete the setup in just a few hours. McDermott said that the team had been working tirelessly to ensure that everything was in place for the display, and that they were confident that it would be a success. The final testing of the fireworks got underway in the hours leading up to midnight, with the team checking and retesting all of the electrical circuits to ensure that everything was working properly.
Other Auckland Celebrations
In addition to the fireworks display, Auckland’s Harbour Bridge also burst into life at 9pm, with a brand new, dynamic light and sound show. The city’s central streets were closed to traffic, and "roaming performers" entertained the crowds along Queen Street and the waterfront. The Wynyard Quarter pedestrian bridge was also closed to pedestrians for a short time, to allow for the fireworks display to take place. The city’s celebrations were marked by a sense of excitement and anticipation, with many people gathering to watch the fireworks and enjoy the live music and entertainment.
Wellington’s New Year’s Celebrations
In Wellington, the capital city’s entertainment strip, Courtenay Place, was transformed into "Courtenay Carnival" for the evening, with multiple stages showcasing live performances, street eats, and parades. The area was closed to vehicles, and the city council encouraged people to walk, bike, or use public transport to attend the festivities. The waterfront was the setting for the main event, with a covers band kicking off the entertainment at 8pm, followed by the Kids Countdown and fireworks at 9.30pm. Orchestra Wellington took to the stage at 10pm, ahead of the countdown to 2026 and fireworks at midnight.
Hopes and Dreams for the New Year
As people celebrated the start of a new year, many were happy to share their hopes and dreams for the year ahead. Steve and Vanya, who were celebrating in Wellington, said that they hoped for a year of kindness and calm, with people being more considerate of each other. Another woman said that she hoped for happy kids, more grandchildren, and strong friendships, while a man said that he just wanted to "carry on being cool and having fun". The sense of optimism and hope was palpable, with many people looking forward to a bright and happy new year.
Conclusion
In conclusion, New Year’s celebrations took place across New Zealand, with many regions welcoming the start of a new year despite the dreary weather. The celebrations were marked by a sense of excitement and anticipation, with many people gathering to watch the fireworks and enjoy the live music and entertainment. As people looked to the year ahead, they expressed hopes and dreams for a brighter and happier future, with kindness, love, and happiness at the forefront of their minds.