Dunedin turns up the heat with New Year’s Eve bash

Crowds have gathered in the Octagon as Dunedin prepares to welcome the New Year with live music and a light show.

The town centre was alive with music in the six-hour leadup to midnight, with a lineup of five different musical acts as well as a circus performer.

The crowd during the New Years celebrations in the Octagon on Sunday night. Photo: Peter McInotsh

A Kids Countdown at 9pm meant younger crowd members did not miss out on the excitement of the big moment.

Tara and Tom Murchie, with daughter Mia, 2, enjoy the celebrations. Photo: Peter McIntosh

For Tara and Tom Murchie, who were there with daughter Mia, 2, the most memorable part of 2023 was moving to Dunedin from Australia — it was colder, but a great place to raise kids.

They were enjoying the celebration, which was "definitely a vibe".

Kirsty and Brett Mason said the year’s highlight was going on holiday to Australia for the first time since the pandemic, finally using their Covid-19 travel credits.

They were looking forward to more family adventures in 2024.

Thomas McAlpine said 2023 had been good because there were more activities than the year before.

Looking ahead to the coming year he was interested to see how AI technology would develop.