Kiribati 2025 has already begun on the South Sea atoll of Kiritimati
2025 is here - on an atoll in the South Seas. Kiritimati, with a population of around 7,300, is the first place in the world to start the new year, at 11.00 a.m. German time. The atoll is part of the island republic of Kiribati, which has several time zones and stretches along the equator in the middle of the South Pacific.
31.12.2024, 11:38
31.12.2024, 11:39
SDA
Just 15 minutes later, we continue on to the Chatham Islands, which belong to New Zealand. The islands with just over 700 inhabitants are located around 800 kilometers east of New Zealand and have their own time zone. New Zealand and the island states of Samoa and Tonga celebrate the New Year at 12.00 noon German time.
Light show at the Sky Tower
In New Zealand, the landmarks of the largest city, Auckland, are the focus of elaborate fireworks displays - above all the 328-metre Sky Tower, the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere.
500 kilograms of pyrotechnics are to be shot into the sky from the 55th, 61st and 64th floors of the observation and telecommunications tower. According to the authorities, the spectacle has been six months in the making.
Light shows were also planned for the Auckland Harbour Bridge and in the capital Wellington.
American Samoa, which lies just 220 kilometers east of Samoa on the other side of the International Date Line, will be the last country to welcome in the New Year - twelve hours after Germany.
