Celebrations to welcome the new year 2024 kicked off in New Zealand with a spectacular fireworks display, while many countries around the globe will be holding their own events to welcome the New Year.

On the other hand, Pakistan has postponed its public celebrations in solidarity with the Palestinian people facing the deadliest onslaught in decades from the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

In New Zealand, thousands gathered at the Sky Tower in capital Auckland, the first major city in the world, to celebrate the new year.

A 10-second countdown projected onto the base of the tower kicked off the dazzling firework display, which drew cheers and applause from revellers.

2024 is here. New Zealand is the first country in the world to see 2024

Love to all the $XPR community pic.twitter.com/fXBST8iQEH
— Proton.Kiwi ⚛️ (@ProtonKiwi) December 31, 2023

New Zealand's two main islands - North Island and South Island - are both in the same time zone. The Chatham Islands, which lie to the east, have a different time zone 45 minutes in advance.

However, the Pacific nation of Kiribati was the first place to bring in 2024. It was followed by New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa. Huge crowds gathered in Sydney, Australia for one of the world's grandest New Year's fireworks displays.

Later, when the clock struck midnight, the highly-anticipated fireworks show at Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House lit up the city's skyline to the sounds of cheers from excited spectators. Crowds had begun to gather since the morning to grab the best spot to watch the event. All nearby vantage points were reportedly full by 7pm local time.

BREAKING: Australia welcomes in the New Year with fireworks display in Sydney 🎆https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/CKEEecKZIR
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 31, 2023

Earlier, Sydney gave a peek into what's to come later with its annual “family friendly” fireworks display at Sydney Harbour Bridge at 9pm local time.

sydney fireworks