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31-12-2021
By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report
WELLINGTON/ CANBERRA: The year 2022 is here in some countries, with the inhabitants of the South Pacific islands of Samoa and Kiribati the first to start the New Year at 10:00 GMT, and New Zealand following an hour later.
In Australia, Sydney kicked off 2022 with six tonnes of colourful fireworks against the imposing backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
It will take 26 hours, up to 12:00 GMT on Saturday, for the entire globe to ring in the New Year.
Many large parties and fireworks displays have been cancelled or scaled down due to a rise in coronavirus infections across the world.
Year-end cheer for South Africans as midnight curfew lifted
South Africans cheered the government’s decision to lift its midnight curfew after nearly two years of COVID-19 restrictions, a relief for businesses and citizens just ahead of New Year celebrations.
“(The past two years) have been hard on us, if you look at our neighbors most guys have closed down, that’s how bad it was,” said 32 year-old Michael Mchende, a manager at Hard Rock Cafe in Cape Town.
“For this brand we are all about having a good time, so now that we have been allowed to actually have a good time, these doors are just going to be here for display. We are not going to shut down no more, we are all in.”
Samoa celebrates the New Year
Unlike last year, when public fireworks were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, they were allowed to be shot into the sky again in the South Pacific island of Samoa.
According to the tourism authority, the island state had flown in five pyrotechnics experts from New Zealand to install the fireworks.
Fireworks welcome New Year in Sydney
Sydney kicked off 2022 with six tons of colourful fireworks against the imposing backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
Unlike last year, tens of thousands of spectators were again admitted this time to watch the spectacle live, despite a sharp rise in coronavirus numbers in the region. However, all participants had to buy a ticket for one of about 30 viewing points.
Citizens without a reservation or vaccination should avoid the city centre if possible, organizers had advised.
Tonga welcomes 2022
In the archipelago of Tonga, the forces of nature did not take a break on New Year’s Eve.
Since Christmas, the authorities have been warning against approaching the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano, which last erupted in 2014, but which is active again and spewing ash and gas into the air.
