The home team won 27-24 in a match which had a farcical end as the Highlanders kicked the ball out twice trying to end the game thinking they had clicked past 80 minutes.
But the game clock was wrong and the match had three climaxes before the final whistle finally went.
The Highlanders were deserved winners, showing plenty on attack and solid enough on defence, while the Crusaders could not quite click into gear at the right time.
The Crusaders machine sparked into life in the second half and looked to have the game there for the taking when leading 24-20.
It took until the final nine minutes for the Crusaders defence to breach and it was the man the Highlanders had bought to score tries who delivered the winning points.
After fine work inside him winger Hosea Gear got the ball 5m from the line and he did the business.
It was a class finish but one richly deserved for the home team which leaves the side top of the New Zealand conference.
The first 20 minutes of the match was all fire and brimstone with the sides going toe to toe.
Both teams knocked over early penalties before the Crusaders put on a beautiful move in the midfield off a lineout which sent flanker Matt Todd clear.
Todd drew the last man and sent Israel Dagg over.
But the Highlanders came straight back with Phil Burleigh making a bust up the middle and then linking with Adam Thomson.
The Highlanders rumbled the ball on and Andrew Hore picked the ball up from a ruck and could not be stopped as he surged over.
The home side coughed up a couple more chances but finally got the reward from a dominant second quarter with a Burleigh try right on the stroke of halftime.
Lima Sopoaga knocked over the sideline conversion to give the home side a 20-10 lead at the break.
Best for the Highlanders were Thomson, Hore and halfback Aaron Smith while Andy Ellis looked impressive for the Crusaders.
Highlanders 27 (Hosea Gear, Andrew Hore, Phil Burleigh tries, Lima Sopoaga 2 pen, 3 con), Crusaders 24 (Israel Dagg, Andy Ellis tries, Tyler Bleyendaal 4 pen, con). Halftime: 20-10 Highlanders.
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