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New Zealand is gearing up to be one of the first countries in the world to ring in the New Year 2025 with an array of public events and fireworks displays up and down the motu. A fireworks display will launch at the stroke of midnight from a barge moored in the channel between Paihia and Russell to welcome 2025 in the Bay of Islands. New Zealand’s biggest NYE celebration is in the first city in the world to see the new year thanks to its position on the International Date Line. The festival in Gisborne has huge acts playing over the New Year in the sensational setting of the Waiohika Estate Vineyard. New Year’s Eve in Nelson features live music from local bands and DJs and plenty to see and do. Family-friendly celebrations kick off at 6 pm (with a countdown happening at 9 pm) before everyone else continues through to the New Year! New Zealand is known for its picturesque landscapes, vibrant culture, and unique way of celebrating this special night. Let’s explore the top New Year’s Eve festivals in New Zealand that promise a memorable start to your year. 1. Highlife Festival. Matakana New Zealanders love to celebrate the New Year, but they do so very differently from what most people in the Northern Hemisphere are used to. In New Zealand, being the Southern Hemisphere, it is summer and the holiday period. The council hosts a free New Year's Eve in The Square from 5pm, with live acts such as The Lost Tribe of Aotearoa, workshops, cabaret acts and fireworks displays at 9.30pm and midnight. Wellington. Head to Wairepo Lagoon on the capital's waterfront from 8pm for a free council-run New Year's Eve party. For the kids, there's a "countdown to Whether it’s partaking in a three-day music festival or simply gathering with your loved ones to watch the midnight fireworks, New Year celebrations in New Zealand offer a delightful smorgasbord of experiences and the perfect way to start a new chapter. Here are 8 of the best New Zealand New Year's Eve celebrations that you MUST add to your bucket list this year! 1. Rhythm and Vines. 5 Stages, 70 Local & International Artists surrounded by vineyards and drumroll the first place in the WORLD to see the SUNRISE! Celebrating the new year in New Zealand is a particularly unique experience! Because of its easterly position on the globe and its proximity to the International Date Line, New Zealand is technically one of the first places in the world to witness the dawn of a new year. As New Zealand's largest city, Auckland is home to the country's most dazzling New Year's Eve fireworks display. The vibrant pyrotechnics launch from the iconic Sky Tower, lighting up the picturesque Waitemata Harbour in a breathtaking show as part of the grand NYE celebration at SkyCity Auckland. Celebrating New Year in New Zealand’s Cities. New Year’s in New Zealand is known for its extravagant manner of ringing in the new year and nowhere is this more especially evident than in cities like Auckland and Wellington. Fireworks displays are common in Kiwi cities. The Christian festival of Christmas was introduced to New Zealand by missionaries in the early 19th century. The first recorded Christmas service on New Zealand shores was in 1814, with Anglican priest Samuel Marsden delivering a sermon to around 400 Māori at Oihi Bay in the Bay of Islands, at the invitation of chiefs Te Pahi and Ruatara. [3] Gisborne, New Zealand, is home to a unique New Year’s Eve tradition – the Rhythm and Vines Festival. As one of the first places in the world to welcome the new year, it boasts an impressive lineup of artists and promises an unforgettable music-filled night. 9. New Year’s Eve Queenstown. Queenstown New Zealand is preparing to ring in 2025 as New Year’s celebrations begin across the world on Tuesday. Most of the country will celebrate the New Year just after 11am GMT, becoming one of the first in the world to welcome 2025. They will be followed by Australia, where most major cities including So if you choose to make New Zealand your New Year's destination, you can look forward to being one of the first people in the world to celebrate the start of a new year. As the rest of the world prepare for their celebrations you’ll be waking up well into the first day of the year ready for a Bloody Mary or strong cup of coffee. Option 3: New Zealand and Cook Islands New Zealand is the second country to welcome the New Year. However, the Cook Islands are among the last places on the planet to hear the decisive ticking of the clock. The flight time between the two locations is only four hours, with direct flights available from Air New Zealand. Option 4: Guam and Honolulu December 31st, New Year's Eve, holds a special significance in numerous cultures. In Korea, people also celebrate both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. In this post, I'll share what Koreans typically do on New Year's Eve. If you're interested in learning about New Year's Day, please click here to read my other free post! ðÿƒˆb>Š aî?›V ïËI«MfF LC¹Ó„Ü Ü³=©Ë%Ãè ‹DÛm†ý!æ{Ì· :m ÿ·4ENi ° ¤Ki‡ % æÿù3y³ZÝ{*Wí®s+’[ù3;»*îÁ ƒŒÒ ’ iX¡yŒY]?W*’Œ šo:RK’®Íƒ Ãøá¨T # µ³EÚQžÊ ½pãÊ 9Ò;[- ·Ç E Ÿ`¾"u påÎÓÕÙˆ¶¦º$ `©„[æå| Ô–Ò† BœïæóªÄ;xX¶ZSˆmß +(D';HÑRáI@ B¼ á#Ž?äø#F5F@ 5µÙ ©Õ°™@ µ¹¾çfûzÌ D¤;º#¬ According to nzhistory.govt.nz: "Protests have continued at Waitangi, and the prime minister has not always attended events there on Waitangi Day.In 2004 some Māori used Waitangi Day to protest 6 Fun Things to Do on Christmas Day in New Zealand if You’re Travelling. If you’re spending Christmas Day in New Zealand while travelling, it’s important to note that many places, including shops and attractions, will be closed for the holiday. Most local businesses will also be closed for New Year’s day too by the way!
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