Auckland was the first major city in the world to welcome the year 2000 with New Year's Eve fireworks. Its position in the Southern Hemisphere and its time zone meant that midnight arrived before it did in Sydney, Tokyo, London, or New York.
The main display was launched from the Sky Tower, Auckland's landmark observation and telecommunications tower. The tower opened in 1997 and stands 328 metres tall, making it a highly visible platform for a citywide celebration. Auckland's millennium event was part of a global sequence of celebrations following the arrival of January 1, 2000, around the planet.
“First” claims depend on definitions: the Pacific reaches the new date earlier, and smaller settlements in countries such as Kiribati can celebrate before major cities. Auckland is therefore best described as the first major city to stage a prominent millennium fireworks welcome, not the first place on Earth to enter 2000.