The decision to splash out on veteran internationals Tony Woodcock, Brad Thorn and Ma'a Nonu to boost their All Blacks stocks to nine has yet to pay dividends and they are the only team to have lost every game.

The Reds, kicking for position then ploughing to the line, led 21-16 at half-time with tries to James Hanson, Liam Gill and Jake Schatz while Will Genia added the bonus point touchdown 13 minutes into the second half. The Highlanders, who briefly led 13-7 midway through the first half, were restricted to three tries scored by Elliot Dixon, Hosea Gear and Nonu.

In the closing quarter they closed to within one point but a match-winning try proved elusive as both sides exchanged penalties in the dying minutes.

In the history of Super rugby, the Reds had never beaten the Highlanders in New Zealand, but they made it clear from the start they wanted that statistic erased.

They patiently worked their way up to the Highlanders line for hooker James Hansen to cross and Quade Cooper to convert for an early 7-0 lead.

The Highlanders hit back with two penalties by Colin Slade, who also converted a deft try by Aaron Smith, to briefly take the lead.

The Reds struck back with tries to Gill and Schatz in the countdown to half-time.

A Cooper penalty and Genia's try pushed the Reds out to a 31-16 lead before the Highlanders cut back their error rate and made a final push to close the gap.

Converted tries to Gear and Nonu brought the home side to within one point of the lead with six minutes to play before they let themselves down again.

Given an attacking line-out close to the Reds line, the Highlanders lost their throw and allowed the Queenslanders to kick themselves out of trouble again.

When back in Highlanders territory, Cooper landed his second penalty to push the Reds out to 34-30 before Lima Sopoagan kicked a final penalty for the Highlanders.