A week after claiming the No 1 recruiting prize of outstanding winger Hosea Gear, the franchise has added a talented, light-footed midfield back to the mix.
The added bonus is that Ellison will settle in Dunedin to play his provincial rugby for Otago.
Like Gear, Ellison has had a long association with Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph with both Wellington and New Zealand Maori.
Ellison (28) played one test for the All Blacks in 2009 - he and Highlanders fullback Ben Smith each made their debut against Italy - and also appeared against Barbarians.
He was a 2006 Commonwealth Games sevens gold medallist and a regular member of the Hurricanes for five seasons before heading to Japan to play for the Ricoh Black Rams last year.
"We're really excited. It's a big signing for us,'' Joseph told the Otago Daily Times today. "He was an All Black, and he covers a lot of positions. He's got experience and he gives us some real firepower in our backline and some good depth.''
The Highlanders have also recently re-signed centre Kendrick Lynn, an ever-present in their resurgent 2011 season, as well as captain and prop Jamie Mackintosh.
