It is located on State Highway 22 some 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of the Manukau Harbour.

The name Paerata is a Māori term meaning a hill ridge (pae) bedecked with rata trees.

However in early 2021, KiwiRail confirmed a new railway station to be situated in Paerata Rise.

[4] Infrastructure New Zealand suggested in October 2017 that the land around Paerata could be used for a new city with initially 30,000 homes, and a population of 500,000 people by 2050.

[9] It was built of corrugated iron and used machinery previously intended for an upgrade to the Mount Eden factory.

[12] NIG Nutritional's milk powder plant in Paerata opened in 2012[13] and was extended in 2019.

[15] The college was founded in 1844, making it the oldest registered secondary school in New Zealand, and moved to its current site in 1924.