It was the first women's national championship game played at Forsyth Barr Stadium and Otago started the game at a hectic pace.
It attacked from all parts of the paddock and scored three first-half tries to lead 17-5 when fullback Hailee Hurring used her blistering speed to cut through the defence after 35 minutes.
Hurring made several strong counter-attacking runs with the ball in hand and was able to split open the Auckland defence.
Hurring, dynamic flanker Kerry Stoddart, strong tackling prop Kat Wilton and hard running wing Anika Tiplady were the standout Otago players.
Otago had a glimmer of a chance to make the finals when Waikato beat Canterbury 24-15.
But it had to down Auckland to do so and the team was not able to sustain its effort in the second spell.
Otago finished third in the NPC behind Auckland and Canterbury.
Otago finished last in the NPC in 2011 and second-last in 2009.
There was no competition in 2010 because of the women's World Cup.
Auckland is a powerful side and has dominated the NPC since its inception. The last time it lost was to Canterbury 20-15 in a round-robin game in 2009.
"I'm proud of the girls. They have come a long way this year," coach Marty Gray said.
"Auckland is a very good side and the second half showed this.
"They have not been put under pressure much in the last 10 years and you saw how they became rattled when we did this in the first half."
Otago Spirit more than repaid the confidence of its supporters who helped raise the $20,000 needed to get it into the NPC this year.
The Otago backs ran rampant with crisp passing and innovative moves that tested the Auckland defence.
Wing Arna McLeod scored the first try after six minutes at the end of a passing rush after four phases.
Captain and wing Anika Tiplady used her speed to get to the ball first after centre Kelly Brazier had kicked the ball up the field from 70m out after 16 minutes. She also made a try-saving tackle late in the game when she went across to the opposite wing.
First five-eighth Victoria Nafatali used her strength to break the first line of the Auckland defence and flanker Kerry Stoddart was strong with the ball in hand.
When Auckland got the ball it was harassed by stout Otago defence that gave its backline no leeway.
Stoddart and fellow flanker Leyhana van Vugt kept knocking over the Auckland backs and the front row of Pip Love, Lucy Emery and Kat Wilton made numerous tackles.
The powerful Auckland pack dominated the set pieces and its three tries were scored by the forwards. It pushed Otago back in the scrums with its powerful front row of Aleisha Nelson, Fiaoo Faamausili and Karina Stowers. Two of its tries came from 5m scrums.
It monopolised the lineout through the clean takes by lock Eloise Blackwell and flanker Charmaine McMenamin.
Auckland claimed four takes off Otago's throws and Otago was forced to resort to quick throws to get ball in the second half when the Auckland tight forwards took full control of the game.
Women's NPC
The scores
Auckland Storm 28
Charmaine McMenamin, Aleisha Nelson, Fiaoo Faamausili tries; Emma Jensen 2 con, Hazel Tubic 2 pen, Bella Milo dropped goal
Otago Spirit 17
Hailee Hurring, Arna McLeod, Anika Tiplady tries; Kelly Brazier conversion.
Halftime: Otago 17-12
