2020 gets off to a flying start with a fireworks displays around Auckland City

An image Auckland Council has shared on social media of the New Year's Eve fireworks display is a little different to what the public saw.

At 12.01am on January 1, the council shared an image of the SkyCity display from the Sky Tower - with another nine explosions surrounding it.

"Happy New Year Aucklanders," the post said.

AUCKLAND COUNCIL FACEBOOK The image posted by Auckland Council to celebrate the New Year fireworks display had nine more explosions than visible on the actual NY display.

"Wishing you a safe and joyous start to 2020."

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The post was met with some humour, with locals questioning if the photo accurately portrayed the fireworks display – or if it had just been Photoshopped.

DAVID WHITE/STUFF Auckland's fireworks display kicked off 2020 with a bang for New Zealand - and the rest of the world.

"Pity about the Photoshopped photo," one person said.

"Live coverage on TV showed a cruise ship in port, and whilst the fireworks were marginally better this year, they are nothing like what is depicted here. Fake news."

Another person said it was a "nice picture" but they wondered where they could actually see such "beautiful" fireworks.

DAVID WHITE/STUFF 2020 gets off to a flying start with a fireworks displays around Auckland City.

One person asked if the photo really showed what had happened in Auckland.

"Good work if it's for real," they said.

"If only that's what is actually looked like," another commented.

DAVID WHITE/STUFF Auckland is the first major city in the world to celebrate each New Year.

A Westmere resident said she stayed up to see the fireworks display for the first time and expected something "akin" to Sydney's display.

The resident described the display from the Sky Tower as a "giant sparkler" fizzling in the distance.

The display is New Zealand's largest and was accompanied by lasers and animations, a first for the Sky Tower.

Light shows from the Harbour Bridge and Light Path cycleway were also synchronised with the 2020 celebrations.

The five-minute fireworks display saw 500kg of pyrotechnics and 3500 effects, with a new firing site at level 64, 235 metres above ground.

Some 1.6 tonnes of equipment and 14kms of control cabling were installed ahead of the show.

On Friday, Auckland Council said the photo was a stock image and it could not provide further detail as to whether or not it was Photoshopped until January 6.

Later on Friday, a council spokeswoman said the photo was taken by photographer Jay Farnworth during the 2011 Rugby World Cup and insisted it was not Photoshopped.

A comment added by the council on its post said: "Thanks for your interest in the photo everyone. There's no Photoshopping here it was taken by our photographer at the 2011 RWC. Sorry if we confused you, we just wanted to wish you all at great 2020."

But a Stuff photography expert said they still thought the image appeared altered, not least because some of the explosions weren't reflected on the water.