The ship's starboard gearbox lost oil pressure at sea on Tuesday and the 85m off-shore patrol vessel continued the rest of its three-day journey from Auckland to Dunedin on one engine.
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Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said last night the breakdown was just another case of the usual issues expected with such new and complex ships.
"It is a fault, but it is fixable. It didn't affect the schedule. Let's not fuss ourselves over the little things."
Commanding officer Lieutenant-commander Simon Rooke said Otago completed its first at-sea manoeuvres in New Zealand with HMNZS Taupo on Monday and was undertaking training on Tuesday when oil pressure in the gearbox dropped.
Crew had ruled out several possible reasons, but because the gearbox was still under warranty, he had decided to shut down the starboard engine as a precaution.
The ship could still do most tasks on one engine. The only real limitation was on speed.
"I was still able to negotiate the ship through one of New Zealand's most challenging harbours."
The gearbox failure was not too frustrating for the crew.
"It is just one of those things; one of the those little challenges you face when you're settling a new ship."
A New Zealand-based agent of the gearbox manufacturer, German company ZF, is due to arrive today to assess the problem.
A navy spokeswoman said the ship would stick to its schedule.
It will remain in Dunedin until Tuesday, then head south to Bluff.
The problem is the latest in a series of issues with the offshore patrol vessel (OPV) and its sister ship, HMNZS Wellington.
The ships were accepted by the New Zealand Government two years behind schedule, after lengthy contract negotiations which resulted in $85 million compensation from shipbuilder BAE Systems for remedial work on the ships and multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury.
The problems include the OPVs being heavier than specified in the contract, which raises issues with their long-term capabilities, particularly their ability to patrol the southern ocean as they gain more weight over time and the ships' strengthened ice-belts sit lower in the water.
Both maiden voyages were delayed after engine failures on the way from Australia and had to divert or return to port - Wellington twice - for repairs to incorrectly-installed water seals.
A control system nodule was also replaced after failing on Wellington's maiden voyage, but it failed again at sea and was tracked down to a fault in the wiring, which was repaired.
Dr Mapp said he did not see the gearbox failure as a big issue.
"These ships are not like cars where they make thousands of the same ones. These ships are unique and these things happen. This is really another usual teething case."
