As the score suggests it was a close run thing, and the game could have gone either way.
But the home side prevailed and will head to Africa tomorrow with plenty of satisfaction.
Gear had easily his best game of the season, setting up the two tries for the Highlanders, and making huge yards every time he got the ball.
But he laid credit to those inside him, and an ability to create space on the outside.
"I think our forwards did a lot of the work and that created the opportunities for us," Gear said.
"We managed to take the ball to the line a lot more tonight and that gave me a bit more room out wide.
"The forwards did the hard yards and they gave the chances to the backs to score the points."
Gear set up the first try with a slicing run off an inside ball straight off first five-eighth Mike Delany, while a kick through created the match-winner for replacement fullback Kurt Baker, 12 minutes from fulltime.
"I think we used the ball better.
"If you just shovel it out to the wing then the defence is just swarming on you, you're getting four or five guys on you. But by taking it to the line there was more space for me."
The Blues had their chances and knocked on the door right near the end but could not score a try to win the game, preferring to go for a win than a draw.
But they came up short and that basically summed up their season, as they were consigned to the seventh loss of their campaign.
Blues coach Pat Lam agreed, saying his side was just not getting the rub of the green this year.
"I look at last year and we ground out a lot of our games.
"This year we are not getting the same results and things just are not going our way," Lam said.
"People talk about the lack of culture but if that was the case we'd be getting smashed every week.
"But we are fighting away and these boys are a united bunch."
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said in the end his side was probably fortunate to win the game, and a draw would have been a fairer result.
"The breakdown was tightly contested from both sides ... I just thought there was a lot of little things which inhibited our game and credit must go to the Blues for that," Joseph said.
"But we did enough to win. I was really pleased with... those tries we scored from the set piece, they were well orchestrated from the team out there."
He said his players dug deep and left everything on the park.
"When the game got tight certain things helped and the Gordon Hunter Trophy really played a part in our win.
"Personally, for me, we can acknowledge a man who was a big part of my career and other players.
"The only way that Gordy would have thought about honouring him was to win the game, and we did that."
The Highlanders made a poor start, conceding a try after three minutes after dropping the ball straight off a scrum.
Gear then set up a try in reply, but that was followed by a penalty shoot-out as referee Bryce Lawrence dominated proceedings.
Joseph thought the referring shut down the game, and with quality goal kicking it was always going to be close.
Apart from Gear, lock Josh Bekhuis played well in his 50th game and hooker Jason Rutledge made an impact off the bench.
Best for the Blues was prop Charlie Faumuina while Ma'a Nonu looked dangerous at times.
The Stormers beat the Reds 23-13 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, last night.
Highlanders v Blues
The scores
Highlanders 30
Kurt Baker, Shaun Treeby tries; Michael Delany con, 6 pen
Blues 27
Hadleigh Parkes, Rene Ranger tries; Gareth Anscombe con, 5 pen
Halftime: 16-14
Crowd: 18,417
