It was marred by politics, lack of consultation, scandal, bloody-mindedness and eyebrow raising decisions. The government of the day changed during the process - it was initially a National initiative before they lost an election and the Labour coalition signed it off.
The prison was built on a site completely inappropriate - thousands of wick drains had to be dug to make the land stable.
The land was not the first choice of the Department of Corrections - they initially identified a site near the current one but it was ruled out after a kiwi population was found.
The Ngawha site was not even on the department's preferred list - it was very much the Johnny-come-lately of prison locations.
No one wanted it there.
It didn't make sense. Mind you, it had made less sense to try to build it in the middle of a lifestyle block zone at Maungatapere, near Whangarei. Farming country.
National voters country. Not surprisingly, Kaikohe "won".
Now, more than 10 years later, there is still empty commercial property in Kaikohe. Down the road, the prison is full. Business and demand for a secure facility remains. A Northland prison was a necessary evil. But Kaikohe was sold a lemon.
I agree with Kaikohe Business Association chairman Mike Fitzgerald.
Ngawha prison has not done anything good for the town.
The families and hangers-on of inmates now live in the town.
There is a curious atmospheric mix, when you walk or drive down Ngawha's main street, of small town bonhomie, and intimidatory fear.
Occupants of vehicles often don't bother getting out of their cars - they just yell at one another in the street, with scant disregard for anyone behind them.
Gang culture pervades the area - the simple act of stopping at a cafe exposes visitors to gang scarves, t-shirts, and American gang mannerisms popular with young, lost Maori males searching for their place in the world. Currently, their place in the world is Kaikohe.
The town's leaders, having given up on the notion of a prison being the panacea to the town's economic ills, are open to talking to youth, asking what they want, in an effort to quell the crime. Police will continue to keep picking youths up off the street.
As long as that desire from all remains - to do something, and stay in Kaikohe - then there is hope the town can find its feet.
