It has been 13 years since the province last won the title. A star-studded team featuring Belinda Colling, Anna Rowberry, Lesley Nicol and Adine Harper beat Wellington in the 1998 final to claim the banner.
This team does not have the star power of that side but it has unearthed a future champion in Te Paea Selby-Rickit.
The New Zealand under-21 shooter was in sublime touch for Otago, scoring 52 of her 55 attempts.
The lanky 19-year-old missed just one of her 32 attempts in a stunning second-half performance.
"She was just on fire out there and we just kept giving her the ball and she just kept wanting it," Otago coach Deb Tasi-Cordtz said.
"She is the best goal shoot at this tournament and she is only 19. She is the baby of the team and has the potential to go all the way and play for the Silver Ferns.
"And I think she has realised that at this tournament and is really fronting up."
With Selby-Rickit unerring in her accuracy, former Silver Fern shooter Jodi Brown played more like a wing attack and did a superb job getting her the ball.
So too did centre Shannon Francois and fellow midcourter Gina Crampton.
Otago trailed 15-12 at the break but scored eight goals in a row to take a 20-16 lead. Wellington responded with five unanswered goals of its own in what was a topsy-turvy 15 minutes.
With the sides level 25-25 at halftime, Wellington struck first in the crucial third period with another five-goal run.
This Otago side, though, has been getting better with every game and strung together an impressive run, scoring 16 goals to four to open an eight-goal lead with 15 minutes remaining.
There was no way back for Wellington, especially with Selby-Rickit seemingly incapable of missing.
Canterbury beat Bay of Plenty 58-42 in the other semifinal to set up an interesting final. Canterbury and Otago played in Timaru on Saturday and drew 58-58.
However, Tasi-Cordtz believes her side will go into the final as the underdog.
"They [Canterbury] are the defending champions and I still think we are the underdogs, when you look at who they have in their line-up. But it should be a pretty even and exciting game."
National championship
The Scores
Otago ... 57
Te Paea Selby Rickit 52 from 55, Jodi Brown 5/8
Wellington ... 45
Jezrae Te Runa-Morehu 30/42, Jamilah Gupwell 15/20Quarter 12-15, halftime 25-25, third quarter 42-34
