Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 12:17pm on 31 Dec 2025,Wednesday International
New Zealand has become the second country to welcome 2026 after Kiribati’s Kiritimati atoll. Large crowds gathered in Auckland as fireworks lit up the Sky Tower, the city’s tallest building. About 3,500 fireworks were launched in a five minute show from several levels of the 240 metre tower. The Sky Tower again served as the main site for the national countdown. In New Zealand, the Chatham Islands are the first within the country to enter the new year. Weather forecasts and a risk of thunderstorms led to the cancellation of some small community events across parts of the North Island.
