The new offshore patrol vessel slipped quietly into its home port Dunedin for the first time yesterday. A crowd of about 60 people gathered to watch the first ship to bear the province's name in 27 years arrive at the Birch St wharf at 10am.
The ship's commanding officer, Lieutenant-commander Simon Rooke, said he hoped the ship's presence in the city would spark the same sense of ownership among the community that had prevailed with the previous Otago, a modified Whitby-class frigate that served in the Royal New Zealand Navy from 1960 to 1983.
"By the time we leave the region next week it is our intent that you, the people of Dunedin, view Otago as your ship and we view the region as the ship's adopted home."
He hoped the ship would have a regular presence in Dunedin, with at least one significant visit a year, and hopefully more because its main task would be patrolling the southern ocean. The ship would be opened to the public each time it visited. He hoped many people would go along to inspect the ship on the open day on Sunday.
Those who had already got a taste of the ship - a group of VIPs who boarded her at Port Chalmers yesterday for the ride up the harbour to Dunedin - were suitably impressed.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton, Clutha Mayor Juno Hayes and Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson joined media and senior members of the southern naval corps for the trip.
"There is a lot of tradition and history tied up with this ship ... The whole Otago community is linked to the history of the old Otago. Many families have strong associations with it, particularly service families."
The commanding officer of Dunedin's HMNZS Toroa, Lieutenant-commander Bruce Walker, said the short trip was a nostalgic and emotional one for him because it was standing on the wharf as a sea cadet watching the original Otago arrive in Dunedin that had inspired him to a career in the navy. He later served on that Otago twice.
The technology of the new ship had blown him away, he said.
"The ship's just tremendous, an absolute credit to the protector fleet project."
At least three of the 45 crew on Otago had links to the province.
Seaman officer Lieutenant Lorna Gray, who grew up on the Taieri Plain, said it was special to be arriving at her home town in the new ship. The ship had received lots of requests from local people wanting to look around, and she was looking forward to giving her grandfather the tour.
The crew was greeted at Dunedin with a welcome from Te Runanga o Otakou, the presentation of a special taiaha for the ship and songs from the children of Portobello School. Speeches were given by acting Dunedin mayor Syd Brown and Lt-cmdr Rooke.
The ship did manoeuvres and training on the journey down from Auckland, where it is based. Its first deployment will be a defence diplomatic visit to the Pacific Islands in October.
Otago will be in Dunedin until Tuesday. A charter parade will be held in Dunedin on Saturday and the ship will be open to the public from 10am to 3pm on Sunday.
• Slideshow: An 'Otago' welcome
• Slideshow: Memories of old 'Otago'
