Waikato have continued their unbeaten run through the NPC, accounting for Taranaki 21-6 at New Plymouth.
Before the season began, this clash would have been circled as a contest between last year's premiership champion and the championship winners bitterly disappointed at not gaining promotion to the top tier.
The newly constituted two-conference format as rendered that debate irrelevant, but the Bulls have also struggled to compete this season, losing leading pointscorer Stephen Perofeta to All Blacks promotion.
The visitors led early with a Daniel Waite penalty in the third minute, but a try to first-five D'Angelo Leuila was converted by fullback Damian McKenzie, who also kicked a penalty to give Waikato a 10-6 halftime lead.
McKenzie added three second-half penalties and replacement winger Mosese Dawai scored a late try to give the home side an inflated scoreline, as Taranaki could not cross the tryline.
Waikato remain the only unbeaten team remaining in the competition, with an opening draw against Hawke's Bay their only blemish after five games.
Meanwhile, Auckland lost their chance to return to the top of their conference, when Northland first-five Rivez Reihana kicked a last-minute penalty for a 23-22 victory at Whangārei.
The result leaves them two losses this season and level with Canterbury on 21 points, but the southerners have a game in hand and face Hawke's Bay on Sunday. Northland now lurk just behind with a 4-1 record.
Waikato 21 (Leuila & Dawai tries; McKenzie conversion & 3 penalties) Taranaki 6 (Waite 2 penalties)
Northland 23 (Murray, Moulds & Kauika-Petersen tries; Reihana 2 penalties & conversion) Auckland 22 (Abel & Aoake tries; penalty try; Plummer conversion & penalty)
Wellington 41 (Milner-Skudder 2, Aumua, Halalilo, C Garden-Bachop & Morgan tries; Morgan 3 conversions, J Garden-Bachop conversion & penalty) Southland 28 (Ryall, Mitchell & Harrison-Jones tries; Robinson 3 penalties & 2 conversions)
