Otago started the game well against the home team and kept the Auckland attack at bay.
Otago had won the corresponding game in Auckland last year and was keen to repeat that but found it too tough.
Spirit coach John Hyde said the side had plenty of ball in the first half.
But it could not finish against the big and athletic Auckland players.
Auckland made some sloppy errors in the first half but eventually got on the board with Aldora Itunu scoring.
Halfback and Black Fern Emma Jensen nailed the conversion and added a penalty shortly after.
The Spirit kept banging away but conceded a second try near the end of the first half which was against the run of play.
The side did not get the rub of the green in play and failed to get on the scoreboard but it was not for want of trying.
No8 Angie Sisifa gave her all and made some storming runs. She unfortunately dislocated a shoulder during the match and although it was put straight back in she came off after about another 10 minutes.
In the second half, the Storm scored a try early on and though the Spirit continued to press it could not get over the tryline. Its inability to convert chances into points has been its downfall for much of the season.
The Storm scored two tries at the end which rather blew out the scoreline.
The Otago side never threw in the towel but Auckland had the ability to introduce fresh legs off the bench, which worked to its advantage.
The win means Auckland has sealed a place in the final in a couple of weeks. Its game against Canterbury next week will decide who it will face in the final.
Otago has no chance of making the final and has one game left in its season - taking on Manawatu in Dunedin next Saturday.
The Otago side started out well, winning its first four games but has since lost three games in a row - admittedly against tougher opposition.
Hyde said the side was determined to finish the season with a win.
