Aucklanders welcome the Auld Mug home

Tens of thousands of Aucklanders lined up for today's America's Cup ticker tape parade to welcome home Emirates Team New Zealand. Click on the story for NBR View video and photo essay.

Staff Reporter
Thu, 06 Jul 2017

Auckland has turned it on this afternoon to welcome home the triumphant Emirates Team New Zealand with nationalistic fervour.

Brass bands, bagpipes, cheerleaders, and, of course, tickertape and tens of thousands of cheering fans lined the streets of central Auckland and the waterfront where it's anticipated the next America's Cup regatta will be staged most likely in 2021.

The biggest cheers were reserved for Team New Zealand helsman Peter Burling as he held aloft the America's Cup after arriving back in the country yesterday.

He told The AM Show this morning that it was vital the America's Cup becomes more than just team versus team but country versus country. Burling said he'd like to see a nationalist element brought back to the America's Cup.

Since Team New Zealand reclaimed the cup with a emphatic 7-1 race win over Oracle Team USA, there have been fears some of the Kiwi team members, including Burling, could be poached by other wealthier syndicates for the 36th regatta.

Photo essay by Jerry Yelich-O'Connor

Holding the Auld Mug aloft