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 after six months of planning and design work.
- The fireworks display was preceded by a mock countdown with confetti cannons at 7pm at North Hagley Park in Christchurch, and other events in Dunedin and Wellington.
- The Sky Tower’s fireworks display was accompanied by a dynamic light and sound show on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge, and roaming performers along Queen Street and the waterfront.
- Wellington’s Courtenay Place was transformed into "Courtenay Carnival" for the evening, with multiple stages showcasing live performances, street eats, and parades.
Introduction to New Year’s Celebrations
New Year’s celebrations are well underway in New Zealand, with events taking place across the country despite the dreary weather in many regions. In Christchurch, children were the first to welcome the New Year, with a mock countdown with confetti cannons at 7pm at North Hagley Park. The alcohol-free event included performances by headline act Kora and DJs, before what was described as an "epic" fireworks display. In Dunedin, the city’s Scottish heritage was celebrated with a piper to see in the New Year at a party in the Octagon.
Auckland’s Sky Tower Fireworks Display
In Auckland, half a tonne of fireworks was launched from the Sky Tower for New Year. The fireworks display was the result of six months of planning and design work, and took just five minutes to show off when 3500 individual shots were launched at midnight. Despite a severe thunderstorm warning that had been issued for areas around Auckland, the storms cleared in time for the display. Rob McDermott from Pyrostar International told RNZ that the team had plans in place in case of bad weather, but was 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 to set up the equipment. The final testing of the fireworks got underway in the hours before the display, with the team checking and retesting the electrical circuits to ensure that everything was in working order. The display involved 1.6 tonnes of equipment and 14 kilometres of cabling, and was designed to be a spectacular show for the crowds gathered in Auckland.
Other New Year’s Events in Auckland
In addition to the Sky Tower fireworks display, Auckland’s Harbour Bridge also burst into life at 9pm, with a brand new, dynamic light and sound show in the minutes before midnight. Roaming performers featured along Queen Street and the waterfront, and roads in the central city around the Sky Tower and Wynyard Quarter were closed from 10pm-1am. The Wynyard Quarter pedestrian bridge was also closed from 11.45pm-12.15am, to ensure public safety during the celebrations.
Wellington’s Courtenay Carnival
In Wellington, the capital’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 between Cambridge Terrace and Tory Street, including parts of Blair and Allen Streets, was closed to vehicles, with Wellington City Council encouraging people to walk, bike or use public transport to attend the festivities. The waterfront was the setting for the main event, with covers band Electric Avenue kicking off the entertainment at Whairepo Lagoon at 8pm and the Kids Countdown and fireworks at 9.30pm.
Hopes and Dreams for the New Year
As the clock struck midnight, people in Wellington shared their hopes and dreams for the new year. Steve and Vanya, who were seeing in the new year in the capital, said that they hoped for a more chill and kind world, where people would be more considerate of each other. Other revellers on the streets of the capital were also happy to share their hopes for the new year, with one woman saying that she hoped for happy kids, more grandchildren, and love, and a man saying that he just wanted to carry on being cool and having fun.
Conclusion
In conclusion, New Year’s celebrations took place across New Zealand, with events in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington. The Sky Tower fireworks display in Auckland was a highlight of the celebrations, with 3500 individual shots launched at midnight after six months of planning and design work. The display was accompanied by other events, including a dynamic light and sound show on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge, and roaming performers along Queen Street and the waterfront. As people looked to the new year, they shared their hopes and dreams for a brighter and more considerate world.