Later it was a point at which locomotives were changed, steam engines were watered, trains could cross, and passengers could make use of the refreshment room.

Having run out of money with two months of work left to complete, the contract was picked up by McKirdy's guarantors, Walter Turnbull and John McKenzie.

When work was nearing completion, the Government called for tenders to erect a fourth-class station building and stationmaster's house.

By early December 1877, the Public Works Department had advanced platelaying as far as Pakuratahi Station, by this time renamed Kaitoki, later (probably in the 1880s) to become Kaitoke.

[1] A special train was run from Wellington to Kaitoke for the occasion under the supervision of District Engineer Mr. Hales and General Manager Mr. Stone.

After speeches and an inspection of the station, by which time had had a refreshments room added, the Governor and party boarded the train again to return to Wellington.

There was a limited amount of flat land available, so the station retained its original configuration of the main line plus one crossing loop throughout its life.

Traffic increased steadily right from the start, with average goods tonnage at around the same time of 457 tons inward and 1,978 outward.