"It's been a long time coming. Finally I've managed to do it."
The Australian reportedly needs to impress in Miami to retain his seat ahead of Kiwi Liam Lawson.
Scott McLaughlin led for 58 of the 90 laps.
The three-time Aussie Supercars champion was stripped of podium points by this week.
Fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon now leads the championship standings.
The six-time IndyCar Series champion won by 0.9798 seconds
The two-day event marked the Aussie motorsports return to New Zealand.
But at the end of the day, championship leader Will Brown extended his advantage with victory on Sunday.
The home favourite had a day to forget on Saturday, as the rain ruled.
The rain proved a leveller among grid frontrunners.
Kiwi Matt Payne's efforts were spoiled by increasingly poor weather in the Top 10 Shootout.
Defending champion Brodie Kostecki has some ground to make up, after his controversial start to the season.
The championship is back in Aotearoa this weekend.
For the first time in six years, the season will start downunder.
Meeke has won five World Rally Championship events.
The Aussie's seat with AlphaTauri just became that much hotter.
Shane van Gisbergen was out of the mix in his first drive of the NASCAR Cup series for 2024.
The Team Penske driver came in second at the exhibition race in California.
The reigning world champion only lasted three laps in Melbourne, opening the door for Ferrari to take the top two spots on the podium.
The former Supercars champion will have his first NASCAR Cup start of the year on Monday.