Kiwis usher in 2000 from the far corners

By FRAN MOLD and NZPA

New Zealanders spending New Year's Eve away from home welcomed in the new millennium from a variety of odd overseas destinations.

On subtropical Raoul Island, 1000km northeast of Auckland, five New Zealanders set up couches on the beach to watch the sun set on 1999. Earlier in the day, the group, who work for the Conservation Department, shared a barbecue with French guests who turned up unexpectedly on a yacht that had sailed from Tahiti.

One of the New Zealanders, Aaron Pickering, said that as the day wore on the team moved couches down to the beach where they watched a glorious sunset.

They then climbed to the highest part of the island to watch the sun come up.

"That proved to be quite an interesting trip as we'd had a few drinks. Let's just say it was pretty humorous."

Mr Pickering said that although it was a night of great fun, the team had a few quiet moments when they thought of the family and friends they were unable to be with.

"That is always the hardest part. Three of us have partners on the mainland. We spoke to them [on New Year's Eve], but it was a pretty bad line. We only managed to get a few words out."

For soldiers serving in East Timor it was just another night.

The work roster was designed so that most of those who had worked through Christmas could have some time off to celebrate the new millennium at one of the Army's rest and recreation centres.

Soldiers were restricted to two cans of beer or a couple of glasses of wine to toast the new century.

Thousands of miles away in Antarctica, New Zealand scientists welcomed 2000 by performing a haka for other researchers, students, base support staff and journalists.

With 24-hour sunshine during the Southern Hemisphere summer, Antarctic bases in the New Zealand time zone entered January 1 at 1100 GMT (midnight NZT) in the same sunny glow they had departed the old year.

The temperature was a few degrees below zero, a welcome relief from the usual chill of minus 10 to minus 20 degrees.

A planned celebratory dip in the waters at nearby Ross Ice Shelf had to be abandoned because of algae.

In London, hundreds of New Zealanders joined in celebrations on the River Thames, which was lit up with flames, laser lights, dazzling fireworks and gun salutes.

Staff at New Zealand House in central London had their own party with one of the best views in town.

The New Zealand High Commissioner to London, Paul East, said there was a fabulous mood and atmosphere.

"It's been pretty special and makes you realise how lucky we are to have New Zealand House at the best spot in town, looking right out across the greatest historic sites of London on to the celebrations."

New Zealand-born ballet dancer Abigail Yeates, who performed almost naked in front of the Queen and Prime Minister Tony Blair in a spectacular production at the Millennium Dome, had a great night.

"I was a bit nervous and it was a long wait but I just loved it."

She said she and dancing partner John Paul Zaccarini were proud of their performance, during which they wore see-through pink and blue chiffon and dangled from a wire rope 45m above the audience.

"It was very hot and I was so thirsty but it was a fantastic view seeing all those faces down there. It's something I'll never forget."