The 2016 Mw7.8 Kaikōura Earthquake was an exceptionally composite earthquake, rupturing at least 17 surface-breaking faults at the southern-end of the Hikurangi margin. This earthquake provides an excellent opportunity to examine slip-transfer between faults located at different tectonic domains of a subduction system. Numerical modeling, conditioned by a multitude of far-field (GPS) and near-field (marine-biota, lidar and earthquake relocation) data, captures a rare snapshot of slip-transfer between upper-plate faults and the subduction-thrust. Specifically, we find a predominance (c. 80%) of slip on upper-plate faults and minor triggered-slip on the plate-interface. The Kaikōura earthquake suggests that these steep near-surface faults provide a key mechanism in the transfer of plate motion at the termination of a subduction margin and may represent an important seismic/tsunami hazard.