In some countries it is already 2023

For the first time since the beginning of the corona pandemic, tourists on the other side of the world were able to celebrate again. The borders of the Polynesian archipelagos have been mostly closed to foreigners since March 2020.

Kiribati has only been welcoming international guests again since August. The 388 square kilometer coral island of Kiritimati has only a few thousand inhabitants.

Samoa, which abolished daylight saving time this year, followed for the first time an hour later – at the same time as New Zealand and Tonga. Massive fireworks over Samoa’s largest island Savaiʻi and in the capital Apia on the island of Upolu should accompany the turn of the year. The island state had had pyrotechnics experts flown in from New Zealand for the spectacle.

Many people in the Kingdom of Tonga are still suffering from the effects of the massive eruption of the submarine volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai. In mid-January, the mountain threw up a gigantic cloud of ash and gas kilometers high. The colossal eruption triggered tsunami waves and blanketed parts of Tonga in a thick layer of ash.

In New Zealand, where most events were canceled last year due to Corona, firecrackers were shot into the sky again for the first time. The highlight is the fireworks from the Sky Tower in Auckland. “It’s an event seen around the world and we’re proud to start 2023 from our city,” Mayor Wayne Brown said in advance.

Two hours later, at 2:00 p.m. CET, the traditional giant fireworks were to be ignited at the turn of the year in Sydney, Australia. A million people were expected to attend the light show against the iconic backdrop of the Harbor Bridge and Opera House. According to reports, half a billion people are expected to watch the spectacle worldwide. A rainbow waterfall is the focal point of the show of eight tons of fireworks – in the run-up to Sydney WorldPride, which starts in the metropolis in February.