Fans heap praise on our America's Cup heroes

Peter Burling for future mayor of Tauranga.

That was the cry from radio caller Ian, who said the victorious America's Cup star would be "just be a shoe-in" to lead his home city as he had Emirates Team New Zealand.

Delighted listeners today had their first chance to chat with Burling and fellow Cup hero Blair Tuke, on Newstalk ZB, with host Tony Veitch.

Fresh from their ecstatic welcome by 80,000 fans around Auckland's waterfront on Thursday, Tuke said he had enjoyed, "a good night's sleep last night so we're going alright".

Burling said the parade was "an incredibly special day", and he was rapt he was able to celebrate the occasion with around 60 of the team, who had returned home together from their stunning win at Bermuda.

"To be able to share it with all of them and to see actually what it meant to the country just blew us away".

The celebrations will continue next week, with the Auld Mug being paraded in Wellington on Tuesday, Christchurch on Wednesday and Dunedin on Thursday.

And when Veitch said he understood there were plans for Team New Zealand members to visit small towns around the country to share the love, Tuke was supportive.

"We've just been blown away how much this has captured the country and when you get messages of support from people in the far reaches, right down in small towns in the South Island and from all over the country, it is pretty special and it's definitely helped to motivate us and it's just exciting to bring it back now."

Burling was also quick to back another champion sporting team uniting the country.

"We're going to go to the All Blacks game tonight which will be another special opportunity to cheer on another New Zealand team," he said.

And the Olympic gold medal-winners were staying loyal.

Asked by Veitch if a rival America's Cup syndicate "came to you and said, 'here's a gigantic offer', how do you say no to that?", Burling answered: "I think both myself and Blair are incredibly proud New Zealanders and really do want to sail for our country, want to keep representing our country."

While he was aware such approaches could happen: "Right now we definitely want to sail for Team New Zealand, we definitely want to defend the America's Cup."