The NSW Waratahs have shown they won't just be making up the numbers in the Super Rugby Pacific finals with a rousing 32-20 away win over the Highlanders.

Defying a horror record in Dunedin which dated back 14 years and chasing their first win in New Zealand since 2015, the Waratahs showed they are a different beast in 2022 to book a crucial win on Sunday.

"It was a tight contest," said NSW skipper Jake Gordon.

"We wrestled back momentum, played some good footy, held the ball well and executed when we got our chances.

"We spoke about finishing games strongly because the last few games we hadn't.

"It was a great team effort."

The victory took the Waratahs (8-5) ahead of the Queensland Reds and into sixth on the ladder.

They face a clash with the ladder-leading Blues back in Sydney on Saturday as the last round determines the top eight finals.

The Highlanders couldn't have started better with lock Josh Dickson barging across the line in the third minute after an early turnover.

NSW hit back eight minutes later when No.8 Will Harris showed some deft footwork to plant the ball between the sticks for a 7-7 scoreline.

The game took a turn in the 29th minute when Highlanders five-eighth Sam Gilbert was sent off for an ugly lifting tackle in which Waratahs flanker Michael Hooper was up-ended.

The Wallabies captain was making his return to play from concussion and escaped unscathed, although he looked rattled.

The visitors immediately used their numerical advantage with a long, floating pass finding winger Mark Nawaqanitawase to score.

Then Hooper showed his pace to dart from the back of a ruck, running 20 metres to score and giving his team a commanding 19-7 halftime lead.

The Waratahs lost prop Paddy Ryan to a yellow card early in the second half for a head knock as he attempted to clean out.

With Waratahs fullback Ben Donaldson spilling an Aaron Smith kick, the Highlanders pounced on the loose ball and used the extra space to put centre Scott Gregory over in the corner.

After a previous penalty strike the margin was just four points with the home side on the march.

But the Waratahs refused to wilt under pressure and five-eighth Tane Edmed kept the scoreboard ticking over with two penalties.

Playing his first game since his return from Japan, forward Ned Hanigan shrugged off the defence and then off-loaded to Edmed for the Waratahs' fourth try.

NSW attempted to chase another try after regulation time to secure a bonus point, but turned the ball over for Liam Coombes-Fabling to have the final say for the Highlanders.