Emergency officials will be watching closely as countries along the International Dateline bring in the New Year.

CNN: graphic

Samoa and Tokelau have skipped a day - and jumped westwards across the international dateline - to align with trade partners.

BBC: Samoa and Tokelau skip a day for dateline change

But it will be the first in the world to cross over into 2012, according to its government, now that it has joined Samoa in shifting to the other side of the international dateline.

FORBES: South Pacific 2012: Samoa and Tokelau Jump To New Year's Eve Early