Stanley (24) is a new signing for the southern franchise and he views it as a new start, and a chance to get over some injuries which have dragged his career down.
The midfield back has played for the Blues and the Force, spending the past couple of years in Perth.
But home, and a desire to get on the field, called.
''I just want to push for a start. I've had two shoulder reconstructions in two years. It has been tough to get a bit of momentum. But I'm pretty confident it is pretty solid now and I will have no more trouble,'' he said.
''I just want to get better as a player. Injury has not helped, obviously, but I have probably not developed as much as I would have wanted to.
''But it is time to put that behind me and get into it. It is just about living in the moment and not worrying about things out of my control.''
Stanley had a promising career. He was in the New Zealand schools team in 2005-06 and in the New Zealand under-20 team which won the world title in Japan in 2009. That year, he was nominated for the world junior player of the year but lost out to Aaron Cruden.
Stanley said the drive to be as good as he possibly could was part of the reason he returned to New Zealand.
''I had been there [Force] for a couple of years and I had a bit of a desire to come back to New Zealand. And just try and grow my game here. I thought this was the best place to do it.''
He said New Zealand rugby had distinct advantages over the sport across the Tasman.
''Over there, in Perth anyway, it is a sport that they are trying to grow and there are a lot of things that come with that. AFL just totally dominates. With rugby they are on the back foot.
''Here [New Zealand], they have got a really good coaching set-up and ... it comes down from the top. In Aussie, there is not much of a centralised system. Each club is on its own. So you are kind of not sure what is best practice all of the time.''
In Australia, pre-season training kicks off in mid-October, so Stanley did not find a late November start with the Highlanders too stressful.
''The pre-season is a lot longer over there. Over here, they jam it all in. When you are here, it is a million miles an hour.
''From what I can judge with early meetings, they have really reviewed what they did last year and there has been a lot of changes and improvements, we hope.
''I think there is a big focus on to repaying the fans. Everyone knows down here that people love their footy.''
Stanley has a partner in Auckland who may shift south in the new year, and for now he is flatting with fellow Highlanders backs Willie Ripia and Richard Buckman.
He has signed a one-year deal - so the ''ball was in my court'' - and is hoping to play centre, although he will be happy with a spot anywhere on the field.
His older brother, Benson, who played three tests for the All Blacks in 2010, is playing for Clermont, in France. Uncle Joe Stanley played 27 tests for the All Blacks from 1986 to 1991.
Stanley said his brother, who had concussion issues when in New Zealand, was enjoying playing in France but would probably call it quits when his contract expired next year.
Winston Stanley is concentrating on what is happening in Dunedin. He has been enjoying the stunning weather of the past couple of weeks in the South.
''The weather is great, unbelievable really. It took me seven minutes to get to training from St Clair. In Auckland, you are looking at anything between 30-35 minutes and never during the rush hour.''
