 "Otago" was launched on 11 December 1958 by Princess Margaret, and was commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy on 22 June 1960.The ship was named after the province of Otago in New Zealand's South Island, and associated with the city of Dunedin.The sensors of the Otago were generally updated in line with those of the Royal Navy's "Rothesay"s to year 1980 standard but "Otago" unlike the RN frigates, was not fitted as a specialised anti-submarine frigates and retained the medium range air- and surface-warning Type 277Q radar, and original Type 275 and Type 262 fire control.