New Zealand rings in the New Year with stunning firework display from iconic Auckland Sky Tower | London Evening Standard

New Zealand rings in the New Year with stunning firework display from iconic Auckland Sky Tower

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Auckland has become one of the first major global cities to celebrate the New Year as New Zealand rings in the start of 2018.

Fireworks shot out of the iconic Sky Tower, lighting up the city below, as revellers brought in the New Year.

A huge clock counted down to midnight before multi-coloured fireworks exploded in every direction.

The first country in the world to celebrate the New Year was Samoa, in Polynesia, at 10am GMT.

Auckland is one of the first major cities in the world to ring in the New YearGetty Images

The highly-anticipated Sydney harbour fireworks will take place at midday UK time.

Auckland: The fireworks lit up the city as New Zealand celebrated the start of 2018Getty Images

A family-friendly display already happened at 9pm local time.

Australia: The celebrations began at 9pm in Sydney with a family-friendly displayEPA

During the midnight fireworks display, a rainbow waterfall off the Sydney Harbour Bridge is planned to celebrate recently passed legislation legalising gay marriage in Australia.