Revellers around the world are celebrating the end of 2011 and starting to see in 2012.
Sydney heralded the new year with a 15-minute multi-million dollar firework display at midnight.
Bad weather prompted some New Zealand planners to cancel outdoor events, but a lower-key fireworks display went ahead at Auckland’s Sky Tower.
Samoa and Tokelau were first to toast in 2012 after skipping a day by jumping west across the international dateline.
As the clock struck midnight on December 29, the two South Pacific island nations fast-forwarded to 31 December, missing out on 30 December entirely.
Samoa announced the decision in May, to improve ties with major trade partners Australia and New Zealand. Neighbouring Tokelau decided to follow suit in October.
Tourists and locals partied throughout Saturday as Samoa revelled in being the first country to ring in the new year, rather than the last.
Sydney’s firework spectacular had the theme “Time to Dream”, which producer Aneurin Coffey said was about giving people a chance to put a bad year behind them.
An estimated million-strong crowd watched the pyrotechnics around Sydney Harbour Bridge, which were accompanied by a medley of wild animal sounds and pop music. (BBC)
