The deputy chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy visited Dunedin last week and brought with him the message that the new ship Otago is an "absolutely fantastic" vessel, having made a recent on-board visit in Melbourne.
"She's 98% there. It's just 2% we've got some issues with, and they're all solvable," Commodore Bruce Pepperell said.
The ship was to have been delivered to the navy about a year ago, but has been delayed because of safety concerns.
Cmdr Pepperell, in Dunedin to inspect navy work in the area, called on projects with navy links including the Bayfield High School grass kart team, the Campbell Buchanan memorial, the Kings High School blokes' shed and TS Waireka.
He also visited the Chinese garden, had lunch at the Dunedin Club with guests and attended a cocktail function on HMNZS Toroa.
