The Pacific country's capital Wellington also organized fireworks and music at an inner city lagoon.
At the same time, two separate fireworks displays in Samoa, one in the capital Apia, and the other in Savai'i, signalled the start of the new year. The displays were synchronized by New Zealand pyrotechnic experts and fired simultaneously from both islands.
The Chatham Islands, part of New Zealand's territory, were first in the country to ring in the year. The islands, about 800 kilometres east of New Zealand's South Island, are home to some 700 people.
Later, people in Asia enjoyed massive light shows, including in Singapore, where onlookers watched firework displays at Marina Bay.
In Bangkok, celebrations centred on the Chao Phraya River which reflects the lights of the fireworks display each year. Thailand, which follows the Buddhist calendar, is welcoming the year 2567.
In Taiwan, about 16,000 fireworks were set off at the country's landmark Taipei 101 building, which is 509 metres tall.
In the South Korean capital Seoul, the start of 2024 was marked with the giant Bosingak bell being struck exactly 33 times, like every year. Tens of thousands of people gathered for the event.
China also welcomed in the New Year - albeit much more quietly than other parts of the world. New Year's Eve is not a top priority for the Chinese given that their traditional lunar year does not begin until February 10. Only then do people celebrate extensively.
However, in the Chinese special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, New Year's Eve has a higher significance due to their British and Portuguese heritage. In Hong Kong, tens of thousands gathered by Victoria Harbour to marvel at the huge fireworks display.
There will though be little to cheer in Israel and the Gaza Strip or Ukraine, where conflicts continue unabated.
American Samoa, 220 kilometres to the east of Samoa on the other side of the International Date Line, will be the last to ring in 2024.
