New Zealand's Auckland Is First Major City to Ring in 2024 as War Shadows Celebrations Elsewhere 

Fireworks burst from the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand, to celebrate the New Year. (Hayden Woodward/New Zealand Herald via AP) Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour as New Year's Eve celebrations get underway in Sydney, Dec. 31, 2023. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP Image via AP)

Auckland has become the first major city to ring in 2024, with thousands cheering a fireworks display sprouting from New Zealand's tallest structure, Sky Tower, and a downtown light show.