Waikato snatched a last-gasp 38-37 win over Auckland on Saturday night to go through to the ITM Cup provincial rugby final against Canterbury next week.
The lead seesawed throughout the game, played at Eden Park in Auckland, but the home side looked to have it sewn up until Waikato scored a try in the second minute of injury time.
Canterbury beat Wellington 57-41 in the other semi-final on Friday night.
North Otago and Wairarapa-Bush are the top lower-tier provincial rugby teams for the year, after winning their respective finals in Oamaru and Westport.
North Otago won the Meads Cup by beating the holder, Wanganui, 39-18 and Wairarapa-Bush beat Buller 15-9 to win the Lochore Cup.
