Local hero Daniel Hillier has become just the second Kiwi golfer in 23 years to win the $A1.69 million New Zealand Open with a two-stroke triumph over Lucas Herbert.

But there was also a significant silver lining for the second-placed Australian as he grabbed a spot in the 2026 British Open at Royal Birkdale.

DP World Tour star Hillier started the final day with a one-shot lead over countryman Kerry Mountcastle and Australian Curtis Luck and was never  headed.

The 27-year-old had five birdies and just the one bogey in a hugely-impressive final round of four-under 67 to top the leaderboard at 22 under on a cold day with intermittent rain at MiIlbrook Resort.

Since Mahal Pearce's win way back in 2003, the only other Kiwi golfer to lift the NZ Open trophy aloft was Michael Hendry in 2017.

As Hillier was already locked in for the British Open, the spot for the highest-finishing non-exempt player went to LIV Tour player Herbert.

The 31-year-old has teed it up in 17 majors - with a best finish of a tie for 13th at the 2022 US PGA - but has only qualified for two of the last eight.

Herbert shot a rock-solid 67 on Sunday.

It completed an impressive comeback in a tournament which he started ignominiously by dropping three shots in his first three holes in dreadful conditions back on Thursday.

Japan's Tomoya Ikemura (67) and Mountcastle (71) tied for third at 17 under, while Australian Travis Smyth finished strongly with a 68 to improve to outright fifth at 16 under.

Luck's title bid unravelled at the par-4 sixth hole on Sunday when he lost his ball after hitting his tee shot way right and then had to settle for a double bogey.

The West Australian limped home with a final round of eight-over 79 to slip all the way down the leaderboard to a tie for 23rd.