Young centre Riley Higgins has scored a try double to help Wellington clinch a spot in next week's National Provincial Championship final, dispatching Auckland 54-19 in the semis.
The result marked the Lions' ninth straight win in the competition this season and the first time they have cracked a half-century of points against the northerners over the history of their encounters.
Wellington wasted no time stamping their class on proceedings, with veteran wing Julian Savea ducking inside the corner flag to score the opening try after five minutes. Higgins was next to cross the chalk, capitalising on a scrum tighthead and pinpoint kick from first-five Jackson Garden-Bachop.
Tries to hooker Asafo Aumua and Garden-Bachop had the home side up 26-0, but Auckland scored tries either side of halfway - to flanker Niko Jones and No.8 Jackson Pugh - to pull themselves back into the contest.
Trailling only 26-14, the visitors continued to wrestle for parity over the next 15 minutes, but were finally broken by former All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara, who dove over from close range to resume normal transmission.
Wing Pepesano Patafilo benefitted from an opportune bounce to score, before veteran lock Patrick Tuipulotu - probably Auckland's best performer on the night - snagged a consolation try.
Higgins had his second and fullback Ruben Love closed out the account from another freakish bounce, as the Lions showed they will be tough to beat in the final.
"Typical Auckland fashion, they like to beat teams up front and rely on their big boys to get a bit of momentum," reflected Wellington skipper Du'Plessis Kirifi, after his 50th game for the province.
"Our goal this week was just to stop the first couple of phases. There were a couple of passages where they scored some really good tries, probably bit to easy from our behalf, but that's a work-on for next week.
"There's an old saying - confidence comes from preparation - and we prepare bloody well. There's nowhere to hide, we turn up on Monday and we're all accountable for the things that didn't go right, and we look at the things that went well."
They now await the winners between Canterbury and Bay of Plenty on Saturday.
Wellington 54 (Higgins 2, Savea, Aumua, Garden-Bachop, Perenara, Patafilo & Love tries; Garden-Bachop 5 conversions, Morgan 2 conversions) Auckland 19 (Jones, Tuipulotu & Pugh tries; Plummer 2 conversions)
Join us at 7pm Saturday for live updates of the Canterbury v Bay of Plenty NPC semi-final
