Sailor Peter Burling will carry the New Zealand flag at the Olympic Games opening ceremony.

New Zealand will have co-captains for the first time, with Burling to be joined by his 49er team-mate Blair Tuke at the head of the team.

Both have been presented with the traditional cloaks they'll wear into the stadium tomorrow, by Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae.

Burling is a three-time Olympian, and he'll be the one who carries the New Zealand flag.

The pair won the silver medal in London four years ago, and just a fortnight ago had a four-year unbeaten run in the 49er class broken.

So far Great Britain has announced tennis player Andy Murray will hold theirs, for Australia it'll be track cyclist Anna Meares and the USA has announced swimmer Michael Phelps.

Multiple gold medal winning canoeist and 1988 New Zealand flag bearer Ian Ferguson said going to the Olympics is one thing, but leading your country in the ceremony is a whole new level of excitement.

"When you get the honour of actually being flag bearer as well, leading your team, it just blows that further out of your mind because it's almost worth the hard training just to be there."

Ferguson is offering the to-be-announced flag bearer some tips, warning that it's not quite as easy as it seems.

"Don't dawdle around and don't drop the flag, don't lower the flag, and if whoever it is is strong enough, hold it up with one hand and hold it high."

He said since 1976 he's only skipped being at the event once, but he'll be watching this one, from the comfort of his couch.