Hurricanes put down big marker
The six tries to two victory is even more emphatic than the scoreline suggests, with the home team's scoreline getting a touch of respectability with a late consolation try.
With All Black Beauden Barrett - who scored two tries - in commanding form, the Hurricanes showed why they were finalists last year.
Barrett put himself in prime position for the All Black No.10 jersey with a sublime display in the Victorian capital.
The Hurricanes scored six tries to two in a dominant performance that keeps them in touch with New Zealand conference leaders the Chiefs.
The Hurricanes are now four points behind the Chiefs on the ladder, with the two teams to meet in Wellington next weekend.
"We're really looking forward to that so we'll enjoy this match and rest up, but we know how much those home derbies mean to us," Barrett said.
The Rebels, who last week made history by beating the Waratahs in Sydney for the first time, would have gone into the match full of confidence after drawing level with the Brumbies at the top of the Australian conference.
The Rebels held their own in the first 20 minutes and even took an early lead when wing Dom Shipperley scored out wide from a Jack Debreczeni kick ahead.
But the Hurricanes struck back soon after when Victor Vito crossed following a superb break from Barrett up the centre of the park.
A Reece Hodge penalty put the Rebels back in front midway through the half, but they held on for barely a minute, a Cory Jane try giving the Hurricanes a lead they never looked like surrendering.
A Barrett intercept under the posts made it 22-8, before fullback Jason Woodward crossed two minutes before the break to send the visitors into halftime with a commanding 29-8 lead.
The Hurricanes continued to dominate in the second half but the Rebels lifted their defensive intensity and it took until the 60th minute for the visitors to score, flank Ardie Savea crashing over after a wealth of possession.
Barrett then crossed for his second when he brilliantly regathered a charged down kick to race away and score under the posts.
Rebels wing Cam Crawford scored a consolation try right on full-time, but the home side were well beaten by a rampant Wellington outfit.
"We got what we deserved," Melbourne captain Nic Stirzaker said.
"We had a bit of an off day and were definitely not accurate in a lot of areas.
"I would like to see the territory stats - it didn't feel like we were in their half at all.
"The inability to get out of our own half killed us."
Man of the match: Adam Thomson and Reece Hodge tried gamely, but lacked support to make a real impact. The Savea brothers, Julian and Ardie, also made their presence felt. However, this was a simple choice really - Hurricanes flyhalf Beauden Barrett - who pulled the strings and showed he is a frontline contender for the All Black No.10 jersey.
The scorers:
For the Rebels:
Tries: Shipperley, Crawford
Pen: Hodge
For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Vito, Jane, Barrett 2, Woodward, A Savea
Cons: Barrett 4
Yellow card: Sean McMahon (Rebels, 50 - cynical play, killing the ball near the tryline)
Teams:
Rebels: 15 Reece Hodge, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Cam Crawford, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Nic Stirzaker (captain), 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Sean McMahon, 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 James Hanson, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Pat Leafa, 17 Cruze Ah Nau, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Sam Jeffries, 20 Scott Fuglistaller, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Dan Hawkins, 23 Sefa Naivalu.
Hurricanes: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Vince Aso, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (vice captain), 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Reggie Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Tony Lambourn, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Otere Black, 23 Ngani Laumape.
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann
Assistant referees: Damien Mitchelmore, Ed Martin
TMO: Peter Marshall