Makotuku is a locality in the Manawatu-Whanganui Region of New Zealand's North Island, about 3 km2 (1.2 sq mi) west of Ormondville.

[4] It is part of the wider Norsewood statistical area, which covers 397.44 km2 (153.45 sq mi).

[14] In 1886 bush fires caused a relief fund to be set up for those who had lost their homes.

Slow progress with the line from Napier and Spit was criticised,[21] after the 5 mi 22 ch (8.5 km) extension of line opened from Kopua (the previous temporary terminus)[22] via Ormondville on 9 August 1880.

[23] Makotuku remained the terminus until the 4 mi 22 ch (6.9 km) extension south to Matamau[22] on 23 June 1884,[23] which required construction of what is now the 111 m (364 ft) long and 30 m (98 ft) high Matamau Viaduct.

[26] Initially the station would have been very spartan, as it wasn't until 25 August 1880 that authority was sought for furnishing the station and until 28 October to move Kopua goods shed to Makotuku and install a water supply.

Stockyards were added in 1893 and by 1896 there was a 5th class station with luggage room, platform, cart approach, cattle yards, stationmaster's house, urinals, passing loop for 35 wagons, extended to 80 wagons in 1940.

[26] In 2015 the loading bank remained[28] and a single track runs through the station site.

[2] There are 6 large viaducts on the 24.57 km (15.27 mi) between Kopua and Dannevirke, including Makotuku Viaduct (bridge 155),[40] which is 128 m (420 ft) long and 26 m (85 ft) high,[24] over Makotuku Stream, a tributary of the Manawatū River.

[42] The original timber (probably totara)[43] truss viaduct was built between 1878[44] and 1880 by Proudfoot and M'Kay's manager, A Graham.

[47] In the same era Andersons also rebuilt Kopua (1895),[48] Piripiri (1899),[49] Matamau (1899), Mangatera (1900), Ormondville (1906) and Makatote (1908) viaducts.