The south Pacific island nation Somoa was the first to mark the new year at 10am GMT, followed by New Zealand at 11am GMT.
The country welcomed the New Year with fireworks over the Auckland Sky Tower.
Meanwhile large crowds have flooded Sydney harbour to watch Australia’s famous New Year’s Eve fireworks, even as smoke from deadly wildfires turned skies in nearby coastal towns blood-red.
New Zealand welcome the New Year with fireworks over the Auckland Sky Tower
The first of two Sydney firework displays kicked off at 9.15pm local time with a few hours still to go until the midnight display in the city.
High winds delayed the family fireworks by 15 minutes.
Fireworks light up the sky above Sydney Harbour during the 9pm Family Firewoks display during New Year’s Eve celebrations (Getty Images)
The planned spectacle went ahead despite calls from some members of the public for the fireworks to be cancelled in solidarity with fire-hit areas in New South Wales (NSW).
“Tonight we expect a million people around the Harbour and a billion people around the world to watch Sydney’s New Year Eve celebrations, which is Australia’s biggest public event,” City of Sydney mayor Clover Moore told reporters.
Sydney kick off New Year with amazing firework display
Responding to calls to cancel the event and reallocate the funding to fire-affected regions, Mr Moore said planning for the fireworks began 15 months ago, most of the budget had already been allocated and it would boost the NSW economy.
“Many of us have mixed feelings about this evening, but the important thing we take out of this is that we’re a resilient state,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters.
“I don’t want to take a second away from the deep sense of loss and tragedy many people are feeling.”
It comes as other countries like New Zealand and Japan prepare for their New Year’s Eve celebrations and firework displays hours ahead of the UK.
