Why is New Zealand the country to first welcome the new year? Shouldn’t Japan be the one?
I was wondering yesterday(On New year), as to why New zealand was the first country to welcome Newyear. Because, as far as I know, Japan is the land of rising sun, and Japan should be the country to first celebrate any event. Can anyone please clarify my doubt? Or at least tell me where I can find an answer to my question?
April 15th, 2011 at 1:32 am
Auckland, New Zealand is 496.3 kilometres west of the International Date Line and thus is the first major city to see the beginning of the new year.
April 15th, 2011 at 1:54 am
Technically, the first country to greet the new year is Russia. It’s across the Bering Strait from Alaska. The International Date Line goes right in between them. People may not be aware of this but this is also the closest country to the US without actually bordering it.
April 15th, 2011 at 2:52 am
cause New zealand – auckland is the closet major city to the international dateline.
April 15th, 2011 at 3:27 am
Maybe we’re just the more welcoming bunch.
😉
April 15th, 2011 at 4:08 am
I ne honest Singapore Japan is one hour ahead of countries like Singapore and same as Australia/ so if u were in Singapore it would be nine and New Zealand would be one in the morning