New Zealand was one of the first countries to enter the new year after Samao, Tongo and Kiribati Islands in the first seconds of the new year, the Sky Tower and Harbor Bridge in Auckland were illuminated with special light shows that lasted for about 10 minutes after the countdown. The Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge were the background for fireworks amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country. One of the first countries to enter 2022 after New Zealand will be Australia.