
Opened in 1965, but with delay. A riot and fire broke out at Mount Eden Prison and prisoners where transferred to the Maximum. The building was handed over to the Justice department temporarily to be used as a prison. This went on for around a year during this time the Maximum became the Rangitikei Prison.
Costing more then £200,000 to build in the 1960's. The Maximum was the last part of the hospital to be closed in October 1999.
The Secure unit had its first and only riot in 1985. The riot began after a patient was told he was not allowed another cup of tea for breakfast due to his diet conditions, after some odd demands and making the radio new's headlines he and his fellow patients finally gave in by 3pm that day after the police would bargain no further.