Two mums celebrated more than just the new year in the wee hours of this morning, with the birth of their babies within the first hour of 2009.
The first reported baby of the year was born at 12.12am in Central Otago.
The baby boy weighed in at Dunedin Hospital at about 2.94kg.
Exactly half an hour later a little girl was born in Waikato Hospital.
Jenna Stephenson arrived at 12.42am, weighing 3.71kg.
Her mum, Andrea, said she was not due until January 10, "so it was a lovely surprise having her that bit earlier".
"It certainly was a different way to welcome the New Year, I can tell you."
NZPA