Fireworks on Sydney's Harbour Bridge brings cheer

Glittering fireworks in the shapes of butterflies, hearts and a cascading waterfall exploded over Sydney's Harbour Bridge yesterday as cheering revelers welcomed 2012 and bid a weary adieu to a year marred by natural disasters and economic turmoil.

More than 1.5 million people crowded onto yachts and along the shores of the city's harbour to watch the shimmering pyrotechnic display designed around the theme 'Time to Dream', a nod to the eagerness many felt in moving forward after the rough year.

"It's about giving people the opportunity to dream of the year ahead and that hopefully it is a bit better than the year we've had," said Aneurin Coffey, producer of Sydney's New Year's festivities.

Beaming lights

Some of the fireworks formed the shape of clouds, "Because every cloud has a silver lining," Coffey said. Colourful lights beamed onto the centre of the bridge formed an "endless rainbow" symbolising hope.

Many were eager for a fresh start.

"I've had enough this year," said 68-year-old Sandra Cameron, who lost nearly everything she owned when her home in Australia's Queensland state was flooded to the ceiling during a cyclone in February. "It's gotta be a better year next year."

World leaders evoked 2011's events in their New Year's messages. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who starts his second term on New Year's Day, said he wants to help ensure and sustain the moves toward democracy that protesters sought in the Arab Spring.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the new year would be more difficult than 2011 but dealing with Europe's debt crisis would bring its countries closer. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin wished well-being and prosperity to all Russians "regardless of their political persuasion" after large-scale protests against him.

The mood was festive in the South Pacific island nation of Samoa, where, for once, revelers were the first in the world to welcome the new year, rather than the last.

Samoa and neighbouring Tokelau hopped across the international date line at midnight on Thursday, skipping Friday and moving instantly to Saturday. The time-jump revelry that began at 12:01 a.m. on December 31 spilled into the night, with Samoans and tourists crowding around pools and on beaches to toast the start of 2012.