Tauranga's Peter Burling's efforts to retain the Auld Mug in 2021 will be available live on all New Zealanders' TV screens free-to-air.

State-owned broadcaster TVNZ has signed an agreement with defenders Emirates Team New Zealand and Challenger of Record Luna Rossa for the exclusive national broadcast rights for the event, to be contested on the waters of Auckland's Hauraki Gulf.

The deal covers all of the associated America's Cup events, including the preliminary World Series, the Christmas Race in 2020, the Prada Cup (defenders' elimination series) in early 2021, followed by the 36th America's Cup presented by Prada in March.

After helming Team New Zealand to victory over Oracle Team USA last year, Burling's elevation to the skipper's role for the 2021 defence was confirmed by team officials in April.

Burling's unflustered performance behind the wheel in Bermuda last year was only seen live on New Zealand screens by subscribers to Sky TV.

With this new agreement however TVNZ are restoring their link with the event that goes back to 1987 when it was part of the original family of five sponsors of Emirates Team New Zealand.

TVNZ Chief Executive Kevin Kenrick says the channel will screen coverage across all their platforms, including live streaming on TVNZ OnDemand.

'The event returning to TVNZ brings to mind Peter Montgomery's iconic TV commentary – ''The America's Cup is now New Zealand's Cup” – because it brings the whole country together and as a nation, we're really invested in the team's success. We're going to push the boat out to make our coverage accessible to the biggest audiences so everyone feels part of the action.”

Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton says TVNZ's coverage will maximise the number of New Zealanders that experience the event.

'It has been a fundamental principle of Emirates Team New Zealand and the Challenger of Record that the America's Cup be accessible to as many Kiwis as possible since we won the trophy back almost one year ago.

'TVNZ have committed to provide coverage of this America's Cup like no other, so we are delighted that the America's Cup Match Presented by Prada and all preceding events will be broadcast live and free to air for all New Zealanders to watch and be part of.”