A barnstorming Taniela Tupou hasn't been able to derail the Hurricanes, with the Queensland Reds falling to a brave 38-34 Super Rugby loss in Wellington.

In one of their best performances of a patchy season, rising prop Tupou underlined his enormous potential on Friday night as the Reds' pack took it to the competition-leading hosts.

Sheer weight of possession told in the end, as the Hurricanes scored five tries to four to notch a franchise record-equalling 10th win in a row.

It was also a 40th-straight Super Rugby win for New Zealand teams over Australian opposition.

However, despite losing a seventh match and drifting further from playoff contention, the Reds could hold their heads high.

It was a vast improvement on the 35-point loss six days earlier to the lowly Sunwolves, defending in committed fashion and stunning the Hurricanes with some lethal attacking forays.

Tupou was unstoppable from close range to score the opening Reds try and employed his uncanny speed to set up their third to winger Jordan Petaia.

Outside centre Samu Kerevi enjoyed his best performance of a modest season, superbly creating Filipo Daugunu's first-half try with a sizzling burst and crossing himself late to set up a nervous final six minutes for the Hurricanes.

In a key moment midway through the second half, referee Ben O'Keeffe deemed Hurricanes debutant Peter Umaga-Jensen had made a genuine attempt to intercept a pass from Daugunu which would have put Aidan Toua clear.

The Reds believed it was deliberate knock-on and warranted a yellow card.

Two of the Hurricanes' five tries went to winger Ben Lam.

He has crossed 14 times and is closing rapidly on the competition season record of 15 tries.

The other Hurricanes' tries went to Beauden Barrett, Blade Thomson and Sam Lousi.

Barrett and opposing Reds five-eighth Jono Lance landed all 12 shots between them in a high-quality contest.