New Zealand celebrates New Year as country enters 2020

AUCKLAND (Web Desk) – New Zealand has welcomed in the new year – and decade – in spectacular style across the country, including a huge fireworks display in Auckland. New Zealand has officially entered 2020, becoming the second place in the world to enter the new decade. New Year’s Eve parties have been in full swing across the South Pacific, where Samoa welcomed in the new year at 10am in New Zealand, which is 13 hours ahead, celebrations are underway across the county with fireworks and street parades taking place in major cities. Thousands gathered at vantage points to see the fireworks alight from Auckland's Sky Tower and where for the first time lasers and animations accompanied the display to take New Zealand into 2020. Others gathered at Silo Park, Bastion Pt and Mt Eden while on the North Shore, Bayswater Marina, Devonport's Mt Victoria and Queens Parade also offered brilliant vantage points, along with Harbour View Beach Reserve on the Te Atatū Peninsula. Thousands were in the central city to party at Federal St from 5pm or danced through to the new year at one of three Britomart Block Party clubs from 8pm to 4am closer to the waterfront. From 9pm to 1am, Auckland's Harbour Bridge put on a dazzling light show syncing with Sky Tower's midnight fireworks. At Karanga Plaza and Silo Park, food trucks and live entertainment provided an alcohol-free, family-friendly New Year's event from 5pm until the clock strikes midnight. The Light Path cycleway also featured a light show synced to the one on the Harbour Bridge.