From dazzling fireworks displays in Australia to vibrant street parties in cities across Asia and Europe, we will be tracking each nation’s countdown and the unique traditions that mark this momentous occasion.

 

New Zealand becomes world’s first country to enter 2025

New Zealand became the first country in the world to welcome 2025.

 

Celebrations erupted across the nation with dazzling fireworks, cultural performances, and vibrant gatherings that lit up the night sky.

 

In Auckland, the nation’s largest city, the iconic Sky Tower served as the centerpiece of the festivities. Thousands of spectators flocked to the waterfront to witness the breathtaking fireworks display that illuminated the city. Cheers and songs echoed through the crowd as brilliant bursts of color painted the sky.

 

The celebrations were not confined to Auckland. In the capital city, Wellington, the waterfront transformed into a lively carnival. Live music, street performances, and a mesmerizing light show created an electric atmosphere that captivated residents and visitors alike.

 

New Zealand's parliament was briefly halted on Thursday as MPs performed a haka in protest of a bill aiming to reinterpret the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, the country's founding document between the Crown and Māori tribes.

 

The bill, introduced by the Act party, seeks to legally define the treaty's principles, a move critics fear could undermine Māori rights.

 

Opposition MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke led the haka after being asked about her party's stance on the bill, which passed its first vote. Simultaneously, a peaceful Māori protest march, the hīkoi, continued toward Wellington, drawing thousands to oppose the legislation.