New Zealand's Wellington Hurricanes beat Australia's New South Wales Waratahs 16-14 to reach the final of the Super 14.

Replacement outhalf Jimmy Gopperth kicked a 50-metre penalty eight minutes from fulltime to win the match and send the Hurricanes through to their first final since the competition, originally known as known as the Super 12, started in 1996.

The Hurricanes will play the winner of tomorrow's second semi-final between New Zealand's Canterbury Crusaders and the Bulls of South Africa in next week's final.

Samoan winger Lome Fa'atau scored Wellington's lone try in the first half while Peter Hewat crossed for New South Wales, who led twice.