The latest addition to the New Zealand Navy's $500 million protector fleet has arrived in Auckland.
The construction of the offshore patrol vessel Otago has been dogged by delays and is the sixth ship in the fleet.
The 85-metre almost 2,000 tonne ship arrived to much fanfare at the Devonport naval base and was escorted by the Navy's Taupo and Hawea into the harbour.
Otago was built in Melbourne and was supposed to arrive in March but was delayed by an engine problem.
Lieutenant Commander Simon Rooke says the fault has been resolved and the journey from Australia was trouble-free. Crew will now undergo training to familiarise themselves with the vessel.
Sister ship Wellington is the last in the fleet and is expected to arrive in June.
Otago and Wellington will patrol New Zealand's exclusive economic zone, parts of the Southern Ocean and the south-west Pacific.
