Second half converted tries to Ben Tameifuna and Richard Kahui have delivered the Chiefs a well-deserved 23-16 win over the Blues at Baypark Stadium.
The second half strikes more than accounted for a late try from George Moala, and a few late moments of jitters aside, the home side always looked in control of the contest.
The Chiefs looked a cut above despite seven changes to their starting line-up, including the benching of standout openside flanker Sam Cane and the omission of boom fullback Tim Nanai-Williams.
The 9-6 half-time score flattered the visitors, but was quickly extended after the break as the Chiefs came out of the sheds with a renewed energy unmatched by their northern rivals.
Chiefs second five-eighth Bundee Aki was shown a yellow card in the eighth minute due to a scary, tipping tackle on Rene Ranger that looked reckless rather than intentional.
Chris Noakes rattled the posts from distance from the resulting penalty, allowing the Chiefs to get out of trouble and control field position and possession for much of the time Aki was absent.
Aside from one howler of an error that would have led to a Gareth Anscombe try had it not been for an infringement at the ruck 60m up field, Frank Halai again looked dangerous for the Blues, whose confrontational, expansive style at first troubled the Chiefs in a manner barely seen so far this season.
Noakes kicked the resulting penalty gifted by the third match official to make it 3-0 after 15 minutes, which was cancelled out by a penalty from Anscombe as Aki returned after 20 minutes.
From the kick-off, a slick move featuring a fake punt and slashing run from Aaron Cruden lead to a Lelia Masaga burst that brought the home crowd to its feet.
The move fizzled out but Masaga, possibly in his last game at Baypark Stadium after signing a deal to play in Japan at the end of the Super Rugby campaign, was clearly out for a big one at the home of the Steamers.
He lowered George Moala with a thunderous hit to snuff out a promising Blues' attack and was busy and confrontational through out the contest.
His run, followed by another from an imperious Richard Kahui moments later that split the Blues' defence, signaled the hosts were warming to their task.
That was confirmed almost instantly as Ali Williams played the ball on the ground deep in his own territory, giving Anscombe a tough penalty chance from the touchline that he duly converted to make it 6-3.
Masaga showed just how much he will be missed by the Steamers moments after spilling a midfield bomb after half an hour. He flashed on to a flat, long ball from Anscombe in his own half, exploded through the middle of the field occupied by a lumbering Williams, before running over the top of Anscombe.
A desperate Charles Piutau tackle brought him down, but the ease with which the former Steamers winger broke the Blues' line showed which side had all the running.
The Chiefs went close to scoring a number of times at the end of the half, but the sides had to settle for a penalty each to set up an enthralling second half.
Richard Kahui, another fine player to be lost to New Zealand rugby at the end of this campaign, decisively outplayed his rival and possible All Blacks centre Rene Ranger. His try, coming from a charged down from the boot of Francis Saili, effectively ended the contest on the hour mark after Tameifuna barged over from close range to give his side a handy buffer.
The late try to Moala reduced the margin to seven points, but the Blues failed to threaten in the final minutes in falling to the Chiefs for the fourth time in as many matches.
Chiefs 23
Tries: Tameifuna, Kahui
Conversions: Anscombe 2/2
Penalties: Anscombe 3/4
Blues 16
Tries: Moala
Conversions: Kerr 1/1
Penalties: Noakes 3/4