The Kiwis won by 22 seconds over the Italian boat in the fifth flight to become the first team to go undefeated in a best-of-nine series in the 24-year history of the event.

Emirates Team New Zealand set up a rematch with Alinghi, which beat the Kiwis four years ago to become the first European team to win the Auld Mug.

Neither team made crew changes ahead of the race, though Luna Rossa was issued a certificate from the Measurement Committee signaling it had made a modification to its ITA-94 yacht.

Emirates Team New Zealand took the decisive lead near the top of the first marker as it has throughout the series.

Luna Rossa helmsman James Spithill cut behind counterpart Dean Barker with a quarter of the race left, as the Italians looked to harness the breeze and sail past the Kiwis on a higher course.

But the Kiwis had one last gybe to start the celebrating. Crew members doused each other with champagne and waved to the trailing spectator boat before hoisting the New Zealand flag up the mast.