This is the moment revellers in New Zealand celebrated the moment the country’s final Covid-19 containment measures were lifted.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday that the country was ending all coronavirus restrictions from 00.01am local time on Tuesday, as the country has no known active cases of the virus.
The last known patient in the country has recovered, in what Ms Ardern has described as a “milestone”.
New Zealanders celebrated with gatherings all over the country.
In one Wellington bar, CCTV captured the moment the clock struck midnight and the country officially moved to an alert Level One.
Revellers in a Wellington nightclub called Danger Danger can be seen counting down the moments to the end of social distancing rules banning dance floors in nightclubs, before jumping from stools and dancing together en masse.
Wellington branch manager for Hospitality New Zealand, Matt McLaughlin, told the NZ Herald that the video brought a tear to his eye.
He said: "That's what hospitality is all about. I'm really looking forward to seeing the smiles on people's faces again.”
“It's great to be back," McLaughlin said. "It's a fantastic feeling."
New Zealanders had been allowed to hold house parties, unlike in the UK, but had seen public nightclubs closed.
The sector is still expecting to see some permanent closures and job losses as a result.
The country has experienced one of the world's toughest lockdowns which aimed to eliminate the virus from the outset.
But now, although social distancing will still be encouraged, shops, restaurants, cafés, bars and public transport will resume almost normal functioning.
Weddings and funerals can go ahead and limits on public gatherings have been removed.
When the Super Rugby tournament resumes this weekend, fans will be the first in the world to attend a sports game.
Border controls will remain in place, and all travellers entering the country will be asked to isolate for 14 days.
