Taine Craig-Ranga's fine conversion from touch put the seal on a 24-17 win but, once again, Tauranga let the opposition lead at halftime before they showed their true ability.
The opening five minutes was all about Tauranga dominance but an inability to get over the tryline cost them dearly.
With their first attack Palmerston North scored despite a blatant knock-on missed in the lead-up.
The visitors were 10-0 up minutes later when two missed tackles let the big Palmerston North pack rumble over.
Right on halftime Tauranga scored a peach of a try.
Halfback Mikaere Leaf dropped an astute box kick behind the defence, Forbes won the race for the ball, linked with a charging Faiva before some patient phase play saw an easy finish for Kite.
Down 10-5 at the break Tauranga got stuck into their work with far more accuracy.
Winger Matt Sievers finished off a good team try to even the score 10-10 before replacement Dillon Williams crashed over to put his team in front for the first time in the match.
But not for long as Palmerston North scored a well-taken try to make it 17-all with time running out.
There was just time for that one last Tauranga attack to clinch the match in some style.
Head coach Dan Goodwin will want far more consistency next Saturday when Hamilton Boys' and the Sky TV cameras visit Nicholson Field.
"The boys worked hard but it was a frustrating game to watch and probably a really frustrating game to play too. I don't think it was so much a slow start but we got down in their end and it was one mistake that let them in," Goodwin said.
"If we want to compete with Hamilton we have to be a lot more polished than what we were today. Our defence had a few holes there a few times. They are an old foe so there is no motivation needed for the boys to get up against them.
"They really punished us earlier in the season in the Chiefs Cup so it will be a real test for our boys."
