Today's the day Team New Zealand celebrate bringing home the Auld Mug, after a smashing 7-1 victory in Bermuda over Team USA.
The America's Cup victory celebrations will kick off in Auckland's Aotea Square at 12pm today, with helmsman Peter Burling and the crew parading down Queen St from 12:30pm.
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4:00pm
Officials estimate 80,000 people turned up for the Auckland America’s Cup victory parade, not including those on the Waitemata harbour.
2:25pm
2:20pm
A waka joins Team New Zealand on the water. Other Kiwis are out on their own boats, cheering them on.
2:18pm
It’s packed out on the streets, but it's a slow day for shops in the CBD. One Marbecks staff member says it’s the “slowest Thursday in ages”.
“But I did point out where the toilet is for many Aucklanders who haven’t been to the city in years. Doing my bit for the community.”
2:15pm
After visiting the major centres, Grant Dalton says the team and the America’s Cup will tour around the smaller centres of the country.
“Our responsibility is to make this as big for the country as we can. And hold on to it.”
2:10pm
Team New Zealand are on the water, Aulg Mug held high.
2:05pm
The celebration isn't over, but the clean-up is beginning already. These guys have a big job ahead!
2:00pm
Team New Zealand and Auld Mug are heading to the water.
1:55pm
Grant Dalton has taken to the stage.
“It’s probably slightly fitting that it’s raining a little bit and it was raining when we launched the boat,” he says.
“This rain is a blessing for the start of the defence… so let it rain.
"To the guys... what do you say? Unbelievable team. Unbelievable. I owe them a huge debt."
1:50pm
Bill English has addressed the crowd at the parade.
“Thankyou for your professionalism, your commitment, your excellence and your display to the world of what’s best that comes from a small country at the bottom of the world.
“[You showed] leadership when there were few believers and I want to acknowledge Grant Dalton in that.
“I want to thank you what you’ve done for the rest of us. You’ve won over the public and it’s only today you’ve realised the impact on hundreds of thousands of Kiwis who admire your efforts.
“You’ll also be helping Kiwis get off the shelf… ah, off the couch."
“I hope it inspires the All Blacks on Saturday.”
1:45pm
Phil Goff says he hopes the next America’s Cup is held in Auckland, saying it has “the most supportive crowd in the country.”
1:40pm
New Zealand rapper David Dallas has taken to the stage to perform for the crowd. Team New Zealand are at the front dancing to his hit song, 'Runnin'.
1:35pm
Team New Zealand are being welcomed at the Viaduct Harbour with a haka. They will now head towards the stage for an official presentation and "special" mystery performance.
1:30pm When you accidentally find yourself at a party you didn't know you were invited to.
1:25pm The rain is well and truly here, with fans donning raincoats and jackets, the crowd from above looking like a phalanx of umbrellas.
"Soaking it up quite literally," as Newshub's Mel Davies puts it.
A massive blast of thunder just rocked the CBD. Good thing today's not a race day.
Here's the view from above a bit earlier.
1:15pm Some of the cup's younger fans are the most sensible - staying away from the crowds and out of the rain. Here's a bunch from Bayswater School, where Sir Peter Blake attended as a youngster.
1:10pm "We're just coming to sea of people in front of us," Grant Dalton tells Newshub's Andrew Gourdie. "I'm just trying to suck it in, it's quite stunning. We could never have dreamt of anything like this."
He admits having tried to drink champagne out of the Auld Mug, but it's sealed at the top. He won't try and drill a hole in it, because Team NZ are just "custodians" of the cup, not the owners.
The parade's reached Britomart, down by the city's waterfront. Mike McRoberts, at the Viaduct with Mel Davies, says the noise is growing as the parade approaches.
1:05pm Warehouse millionaire Stephen Tindall says investing in Team NZ is "absolutely" the best money he ever spent.
Local businesses are also getting in on the action, Team NZ sponsors or not.
1pm Right on time, here comes the rain. NIWA forecaster Chris Brandolino told The AM Show this morning it would arrive "after 1pm". Still, the parade goes on - as Mayor Phil Goff told the show this morning: "These guys are sailors - they're used to a bit of water."
12:50 The parade's nearing the bottom of Queen St, from where they'll turn onto Customs St and head towards the Viaduct.
12:45 Newshub Sport's Andrew Gourdie has been speaking to some of the team behind the scenes. Paul WIlson, the physio, tells him he's been on Team NZ for 14 years and it's great to see everyone out to celebrate the win.
12:40pm Dalton, Ashby and Burling are now in front of the crowd, riding on the same Hilux carrying the Auld Mug. They're firing cannons of confetti into the air, to go with the miles of ticker-tape parade already scattered across the street.
How do you think the crowd compares to 1995?
12:30pm The parade has begun, the utes on the move with bagpipes blaring.
Once it's over, both Pete Burling and Blair Tuke will have some offers on the table - not all of them from yachting syndicates.
12:25pm Old-school!
12:20 "This is pretty awesome," says Blair Tuke, from the back of one of the 21 utes carrying the team down Queen St. Even though the cup's in the bag, he's still wearing his lucky red socks.
He tells Samantha Hayes having cyclists on board was a "calculated risk" that paid off.
"When I could, I chipped in," he says. "The three guys in front of me were putting in max effort."
12:15 "Queen St's full, we're pumped." Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton is ready to give the crowd what they want.
"I don't know that we ever expected that we'd ever [bring it home]."
And the weather's started to turn, with Newshub's Samantha Hayes reporting the first few drops of rain have begun.
12:10pm The team have been welcomed by Ngāti Whātua representatives next to Aotea Square and the Town Hall.
12:05pm Remember the lucky red socks? Jung Ock, pictured below with David Jang, made her own - even though Jimmy Spithill's her favourite sailor.
11:55am Newshub reporter Anna Bracewell-Worrall says the expected rain hasn't arrived just yet, but it's cold and probably not far away.
Team NZ fan Lia has heard the rumours other syndicates want to sign up our sailors, and she's not happy about it.
11:45am Newshub Sport's Andrew Gourdie is ready for things to kick off.
11:40am Fans are lining Queen St in Auckland's CBD, many of them holding flags.
Newshub.
