2017 starts with a bang
New Zealand Hollywood’s party central
Celebrities jet in for the sun, snow, wine and tennis ahead of midnight fun and festivities.
Kiwis have has welcomed 2017 in style with parties roaring into the early hours, Hollywood stars jetting in to holiday hotspots and a former prime minister’s son providing the soundtrack to the country’s biggest fireworks display.
As the first major nation in the world to change the calendar (credit to Tonga, Samoa and Kiribati who got in one hour earlier), New Zealand wasted no time embracing the party cheer.
Auckland marked the New Year with an explosive display featuring 500kg of fireworks.
DJ Max Key, son of former prime minister John Key, was responsible for the music choices at the stroke of midnight as lasers beamed onto the side of the Sky Tower.
Actors took in the attractions, with a number of high-profile personalities in the country.
After secretly tying the knot with film director Tom Ackerley in Australia earlier this month, Margot Robbie is also believed to be holidaying in New Zealand for New Years.
Robbie posted a picture to Instagram of her and friends enjoying a game of football, with a New Zealand flag emoji.
The Wolf of Wall Street actress, 26, who has 9.6 million Instagram followers, has previously spent time in New Zealand while filming Z for Zachariah in 2014.
Comedy king Sacha Baron Cohen, his actress wife Isla Fisher, and their children spent time in Queenstown and made a snowman on top of a glacier before heading up to Auckland for New Year’s Eve.
Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco kept Nelson wineries busy as the 31-year-old US actress and her boyfriend Karl Cook tasted their way around the region.
Twilight actress Ashley Greene capped off her holiday by getting engaged to boyfriend Paul Khoury, who popped the question at Bridal Veil Falls in Raglan.
Police were making their presence felt across the country, with extra staff at Northland, Mt Maunganui, Coromandel and Queenstown. They were extra vigilant in Wanaka after hundreds of drunken partygoers were marooned on Thursday.
Free New Year festivities at Christchurch’s North Hagley Park and Wellington’s Frank Kitts Park were popular as bands and fireworks entertained the crowds.
In Whangamata, thousands of revellers welcomed the new year with a concert at Williamson Park.
As the clock nudged closer to midnight, the crowd of young teenagers and families swelled in front of the main stage as band 5th Element performed a string of pop tunes.
At the Rhythm and Vines (Gisborne) and Rhythm and Alps (Cardrona Valley) festivals, thousands danced to performances from Chance the Rapper, Kimbra, and RUFUS.