New Zealand's Auckland becomes the first country in the world to welcome New Year 2022 with fireworks. New Zealand was one of the first places to celebrate the new year with a low-key lights display projected onto Auckland landmarks, including the Sky Tower and Harbor Bridge. That replaced the traditional fireworks show. While there hasn't yet been any community spread of omicron in New Zealand, authorities still wanted to discourage crowds gathering.
A light show and fireworks display brought in the New Year in Australia on Friday night, despite a surge in coronavirus cases. The spectacle took place against the backdrop of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House.
Some fireworks were let off earlier in the evening to give younger children a preview of the show. Hours before the celebrations began, Australian health authorities reported a record 32,000 new virus cases, many of them in Sydney.
Because of the surge, crowds were far smaller than in pre-pandemic years, when as many as one million revelers would crowd the city center.
(with inputs from the Associated Press)
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