Oceania countries are the first to welcome the New Year.
Auckland became the first major city to welcome 2024 with thousands cheering a light and fireworks show from New Zealand's tallest building, the Sky Tower.
This year's New Year's celebration is marked by the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, which have dampened celebrations and raised tensions in parts of the world.
Additional security arrangements have been made in several cities and festivals have been canceled altogether in some places.
In Auckland, light rain that fell throughout Sunday stopped at midnight before the countdown began on an illuminated digital screen at the top of the 328-metre (1,076-foot) observation and communications tower.
🇳🇿 | New Year 2024: New Zealand Celebrates New Year with Fireworks Show: pic.twitter.com/Qy4YGUU3OX
— Alert News 24 (@AlertaNews24) December 31, 2023
Two hours later, in neighboring Australia, the Sydney Harbor Bridge will be the focal point of the well-known midnight lights and fireworks seen by some 425 million people worldwide each year, according to officials.
In Sydney, more police than ever have been deployed to ensure safety as more than a million people – one in five residents of the city – flock to the waterfront to enjoy the best views, the government said in a statement.
Many have been camping in the best spots since Sunday morning.
The boulevard was the scene of fierce pro-Palestinian protests following a deadly attack by Palestinian rebel group Hamas on October 7, when the sails of Sydney's iconic Sydney Opera House were lit up in the colors of the Israeli flag, sparking the war.
Kiribati's largest island, Kritimati, with a population of 5,000, is the first inhabited Pacific island to start each New Year.
🇦🇺 | New Year 2024: Australia ushers in the New Year with fireworks in Sydney.
pic.twitter.com/04HylyItWU— Alert News 24 (@AlertaNews24) December 31, 2023
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