All Blacks playmaker Damian McKenzie scored twice in the second half and finished with 20 points as the Chiefs beat the Blues 25-14 in round one of Super Rugby Pacific.
The visitors fought back from an eight-point deficit in wet conditions at Eden Park after the Blues won the final 41-10 at the same venue eight months ago.
LATEST HEADLINES:
The home side looked ready to repeat that outcome after tries by Dalton Papali'i and AJ Lam put them 14-6 clear at halftime.
However, they paid for their indiscipline in the second spell, with the Chiefs hitting the front in the final quarter after Josh Fusitua was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.
Debut winger and former All Blacks Sevens start Leroy Carter put the visitors ahead before fullback McKenzie slid over to make the outcome safe, using his pace to outstrip the defence for a second time.
McKenzie, who also landed two penalties and two conversions, had the better of his Blues opposite Beauden Barrett.
Both started at fullback despite having shared the flyhalf jersey through all of the All Blacks' 14 Tests last year. They are expected to contest that role again in 2025.
Meanwhile Western Force playmaker Ben Donaldson has scored a miracle try and kicked the conversion to steal a 45-44 win from Moana Pasifika in a point-scoring bonanza in Perth.
Chiefs 25 (Damian McKenzie 2, Leroy Carter tries; Cons: McKenzie 2 pen, 2 con) def Blues 14 (Dalton Papali'i, AJ Lam tries; Beauden Barrett 2 con)