Top New Zealand referee Paddy O'Brien helped to seal the Hurricanes' fate after 26 minutes at Carisbrook on Saturday when he red-carded Tana Umaga for a dangerous tackle - and awarded a penalty try.
That put the Highlanders in front for the first time in the Super 12 clash, and they did enough to run off 35-19 winners after leading 23-12 at the changeover.
The Hurricanes plugged away valiantly with 14 players but took another blow in the second spell when Gordon Falcon was forced from the field with a damaged shoulder.
Injury kept Jonah Lomu out of the game but replacement Brad Fleming took his chances to score two tries. Christian Cullen rarely saw the ball and had little influence on the game.
Stand-out players for the Highlanders were first five Tony Brown, skipper Taine Randell and hooker Anton Oliver. Brown took two bangs to the head and finally went off in the second spell after a third knock.
Both teams were reduced to 14 men when Highlanders' scrum half Byron Kelleher was sin-binned with little more than 10 minutes to go.
Other Super 12 action this weekend:
Crusaders 32
Blues 20
Brumbies 51
Sharks 10
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Super Rugby
More misery for Crusaders as Reds make history
David Havili’s switch to No 10 couldn't stop the Crusaders from crashing to another loss.