King Country went into their game with North Otago, who were placed three points ahead of them, needing a bonus point win to qualify and they achieved that with a 42-21 victory.
That left it facing an away semifinal with competition leader at the end of regular season play, South Canterbury who swamped East Coast 57-5.
Whanganui secured a home semifinal against Thames Valley with a 46-13 win over Mid Canterbury.
North Otago was the highest finisher in the Lochore Cup qualifiers while Horowhenua Kapiti claimed second place with their upset 44-43 win over Thames Valley.
North Otago will host Mid Canterbury while Horowhenua Kapiti will host Ngāti Porou East Coast.
Bunnings Heartland Championship results:
Thames Valley 43 (Laulea Mau Fangufangu, Telly Hemopo, Calum Wood, Tayne Tupaea tries; Zac Stephens 4 con 5 pen) Horowhenua Kapiti 44 (Te Atawhai Mason, Aaron Lahmert, Tyler Tane, Joel Winterburn, Willie Paiaua'a, Louis Northcroft tries; Jack Tatu-Robinson 2 con, pen; Kody Edwards 2 con, pen). HT: 34-31
West Coast 17 (Logan Ross, Elliot Smith, Jaime Garland tries; Ross con) Poverty Bay 41 (Shayde Skudder, Te Peehi Fairlie 2, Hunter Mokomoko, Tamanui Hill, Seth Lundon, Braedyn Grant tries; Christie 3 con). HT: 0-22
South Canterbury 57 (Zac Saunders 3, Conor Anderson, Loni Toumohuni, Salesi Savelio, Theo Davidson, Lisiate Folau, Kalivini Leatigaga tries; Sam Briggs 6 con) East Coast 5 (Joe Royal try). HT: 19-5
Wairarapa Bush 55 (Eddie Cranston 2, Aseri Waqa 3, Charles Mataitai, Fiula Tameilau, Ryan Wilson, Sam Siaosi tries; Aidan Champion 4 con; Tipene Haira con) Buller 39 (Iliesa Tora 3, Sam Jope, Jesse Pitman-Joass tries; James Lash 3 con, 2 pen; Pitman-Joass con). HT: 29-24
King Country 42 (Kaleb Foote, Zayn Tipping, Conor Dobbyn, Joe Perawiti, Puka Malo, Zach Wickham-Darlington, Charlie Henare tries; Quinn Collard 2 con, pen) North Otago 21 (Junior Fakatoufifita, Mone Somate, Matt Vocea tries, Ben McCarthy 3 con). HT: 17-14
Whanganui 46 (Timosi Serawalu, Tyler Rodgers-Holden 2, Roman Tutauha, Jack Yarrall, Keightley Watson tries; Ethan Robinson 5 con, 2 pen) Mid Canterbury 13 (Scorers not provided). HT: 15-6
Meads Cup Semi Finals:
Saturday 15th October
South Canterbury (1) vs. King Country (4)
Pleasant Point Domain, Pleasant Point – 2.30pm
Whanganui (2) vs. Thames Valley (3)
Cooks Garden, Whanganui – 2.30pm
Lochore Cup Semi Finals:
Saturday 15th October
North Otago (5) vs. Mid Canterbury (8)
Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru – 2.30pm
Horowhenua Kapiti (6) vs. East Coast (7)
Levin Domain, Levin – 2.30pm