The Highlanders were all precision and poise in the opening period. They had 17 points on the board within as many minutes at the start of the game.
Hooker Liam Coltman said it was just a perfect start.
''It was great footy to play in. The set piece was going well and it was just clinical, I suppose,'' Coltman said.
''We just executed everything well and scored some nice tries.''
But going into the break 24 0 up, the Highlanders dropped the kick off at the start of the second half and that was a sign of things to come.
''They came back at us, as we knew they would. They're a good side and the boys did well to guts it out at the end.''
The Blues scored four tries in the second half for two bonus points but left their run too late as the Highlanders retained the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy.
The Highlanders nabbed three classy tries in the first half, two to the electric Malakai Fekitoa.
Why Blues coach John Kirwan ever let him go is a mighty head scratcher as the big Tongan certainly let everyone at Forsyth Barr Stadium know how good he is.
Coltman said, as a tight forward, it was great to have such exciting backs in the side.
''You get out of a set piece and look up and you see those guys doing their magic. It's great after we do all our hard work.''
Fekitoa scored the first try after just nine minutes when he was on the end of an overlap and was given a nice ball by winger Waisake Naholo.
Ten minutes later, Naholo had his seventh try of the season. The Highlanders ran the ball up twice from a lineout and then went back the other way with Naholo going over in the tackle of Blues captain Jerome Kaino.
The Blues attacked for 10 minutes in the middle of the first half but could not finish, twice messing up opportunities when it looked so simple to score.
They paid for their sloppiness when the Highlanders moved a scrum free kick out their backline and Fekitoa burst through the defence to score just before the break.
It seemed an avalanche of points would come in the second half for the home team but the Blues woke up and got some passion in their game.
George Moala scored a try, as did huge barging lock Patrick Tuipulotu, while veteran hooker Keven Mealamu came on to help himself to a couple of sniping tries.
The Blues had the ball as the fulltime hooter went but the home team forced a turnover and it was game over.
Best for the Highlanders was halfback Aaron Smith. First five eighth Lima Sopoaga did not miss a shot at goal all night, while up front, lock Mark Reddish and No8 Nasi Manu worked hard.
Super rugby
The scores
Highlanders 30
Malakai Fekitoa 2, Waisake Naholo tries; Lima Sopoaga 3 con, 3 pen
Blues 24
Keven Mealamu 2, George Moala, Patrick Tuipulotu tries; Dan Bowden con, Ihaia West con
Halftime: Highlanders 24-0.
Crowd: 14,700
