It was so close but the Hurricanes took their chances at the end, leaving the southern franchise having to swallow yet another a demoralising loss.
The Highlanders had fought back to lead 17-10 with less than 10 minutes to go, but after a series of attacks on the line, Hurricanes lock Jason Eaton charged over.
That tied the scores up and, a minute later, the Highlanders turned the ball over, Piri Weepu put a kick through and, after a bobble from the Highlanders backs, he reclaimed and the ball went to Conrad Smith and the All Black centre did the rest.
It was cruel luck for the visitors who struggled to get much ball in the second half but showed some solid defence and secured turnovers at crucial times.
Adam Thomson reminded everyone of why he was an All Black last year, getting around the paddock and making plenty of tackles, while fellow loosie Alando Soakai was not far behind.
Halfback Sean Romans had another good game while second five-eighth Johnny Leota put in a top effort.
The Hurricanes did well to win the game but will need to pick up their form if they are to go as far as tipped by many pundits.
Ma'a Nonu made an immediate impact coming off the bench at half-time with a nice pass and then barging through midfield only to be lowered a metre short.
He quickly freed the ball and winger David Smith dived over in the corner after just three minutes of the second spell.
Kirkpatrick added the extras from wide out.
The Hurricanes looked as though they were going to take over but the Highlanders came back when Daniel Bowden toed the ball through after a poor Hurricanes pass and, much to the horror of the home crowd, just won the race to the ball in a sprint of about 60m.
Four minutes later and the visitors were in front.
The Hurricanes did not control a kick from Ben Smith and Steven Setephano got the ball 20m out and could not be stopped.
The first half was dominated by dropped balls and turnovers but the Highlanders went close a couple of times, just coming up short.
Fullback Israel Dagg was lowered a metre short of the line but could not free the ball, while winger Kenny Lynn made a nice break but the cover defence closed him down.
The Highlanders had the first chance to score but Bowden could not convert a penalty chance from wide out after just two minutes.
Nether side could hold on to the ball in the slippery conditions and both sides were coming off first-round losses and it told.
Both sides wanted to avoid big mistakes and so played very conservatively.
Thomson was sent to the sin bin two minutes short of the half-time whistle for constant infringing.
It seemed a tough call on the Highlanders as they gave few penalties away in the first stanza, but referee Vinny Munro was unmoved by pleas from the visitors.
The Highlanders line-out struggled in the first half with the slippery ball making it hard to find targets.
• In the other game played last night, the Waratahs beat the Chiefs 11-7 in drier conditions in Sydney.
• Hurricanes 22 (David Smith, Jason Eaton, Conrad Smith tries, Daniel Kirkpatrick one penalty goal, one conversion, Piri Weepu one conversion), Highlanders 17 (Daniel Bowden, Steven Setephano tries, Bowden penalty goal, 2 conversions) Half-time: 3-0 Hurricanes Crowd: 10,136.
