Hawkes Bay, which had left Napier at 5.30am to travel to Dunedin, showed no signs of jet lag and made a stunning start to the game.
Hooker Forne Burkin made a dream start to her representative career when she scored after just 90 seconds.
The Tuis dominated the opening quarter, and went 14-0 up when first five eighth Amy Williams broke three tackles, scored a try and added a conversion, her second of the game.
Finally, the Spirit players were jolted into action, the home side started playing to its strengths, beginning with a forward pack that dominated at the set piece.
The Otago backs began to play with confidence, thriving off first class service from halfback Sam Wong and first five eighth Olivia Waldron.
Midfield backs Michaela Baker and Greer Muir stepped up a gear on attack, drawing in defenders and creating space for winger Hollie Fraser to score the first of her three tries.
Fraser was one of eight Spirit players on debut, and her hat trick resulted from space, speed and strength.
Georgina McCullough and Rian Sanerive, two other debutants, scored the other three tries between them. McCullough displayed her skills in support play scoring either side of the field.
Hawkes Bay led 14-5 at halftime but the Spirit dominated the second half and starved the Tuis of possession.
Fraser bagged her second and third tries in the space of three minutes, and what followed was an almost faultless final quarter from the Spirit.
Black Ferns No 8 Angie Sisifa led the Spirit by example and was well supported in the loose by Julia Gorinski and Madeline Finch.
The Spirit tight five had the Tuis pack on the back foot, and the mobility of debutant front rowers Eilis Doyle and Tegan Hollows added another dimension to the Spirit's ability to spread the ball wide and contest the breakdown.
Spirit coach Duncan McEwan was pleased with the way his side responded to turn the game around in the second half.
A bye next week will give the Otago players a chance to build for the South Island derby against Canterbury, which was crushed 70-8 by Auckland on Saturday.
Hawkes Bay might have been well beaten in the end but it did produce one of the bright sparks of the game.
Black Ferns triallist and openside flanker Laurae Blake, just 17, was always in the thick of the action, and is one to be watched.
Women's rugby
The scores
Otago Spirit 32
Hollie Fraser 3, Georgina McCullough 2, Rian Sanerive tries; Michaela Baker con
Hawkes Bay Tuis 14
Forne Burkin, Amy Williams tries; Williams 2 con
Halftime: Hawkes Bay 14-5.
