[1][2] Goods were first carried to the station on 19 October 1887,[3] though the official opening of the 15 mi 57 ch (25.3 km) Marton to Hunterville section was not until Saturday 2 June 1888, when the station was served by two trains a week,[4] reported as losing £15 a week.

[7] Opening of the Hunterville Branch (later incorporated in NIMT) was delayed, due to problems with the earlier Porewa Contract and to tenders exceeding government's costings for the work.

[3] In 1896 the station was noted as having a passenger platform, 34 wagon passing loop, privies, urinals, goods shed 30 ft (9.1 m) by 40 ft (12 m), cart approach to platform, loading bank, cattle yards, water service, coaling, engine shed and stationmaster's house.

Improvements in 1899 added a verandah, raised the building and extended the platform south, which had only room for two cars and a van.

[3] Hunterville had its annual returns of traffic recorded, as did Utiku to the north and Marton to the south.