The Royal New Zealand Navy has not acquired new patrol vessel Otago despite a report in last week's trans Tasman political newsletter
A spokesman for Defence Minister Dr Wayne Mapp, who is in Canada this week, said the report was inaccurate.
The Government and the ship's builders were still in contract negotiations over issues with the vessel.
The ship would not be commissioned or accepted by the navy until those negotiations were completed to the satisfaction of all parties, the spokesman said.
It had previously been reported the ship was overweight, among other issues that did not meet the Defence Force's original specifications to builders.
It was hoped the 85m patrol vessel, which was originally scheduled to visit her home port of Dunedin at the end of 2007, would be delivered before Christmas, the spokesman said.
It is understood it is not expected in Dunedin until part-way through next year.
