[3] Before the establishment of the railway, the bulk of farming produce (wool) had to be transported east by horse and bullock cart to Napier, from where it was exported.

Until the establishment of roads and railways in the early 1900s, Taihape, like other rural towns, remained largely an isolated pioneer settlement.

The town declined during the downturn of the 1980s and today it is largely a refreshment stop for travellers and a service point for the local farming community.

Local business owners commissioned the New Zealand sculptor Jeff Thomson to produce the oversized gumboot using his signature material, corrugated iron.

[5] Taihape is a rural supply town and at its peak during the 1960s, was the main railway and transport hub for the surrounding farming community.

A major decline occurred in the 1980s due to a restructure and electrification of the railway system and a general downturn in the farming sector.

Taihape markets itself as the "Gumboot Capital of the World", and it attracts large numbers of people to the annual gumboot-throwing contest.

It lies in a sheltered valley among the high country of the central North Island, close to the Rangitikei River and the Ruahine Ranges.

It is surrounded by fertile high country ideal for sheep and deer farming and its location close to the mountains, rivers and lakes has made it an important service hub for hunting and outdoor tourism.

Transport routes in and out of Taihape have improved over the years and what were once twisting and treacherous roads through the high country are now easy and fast deviations through the hills to Mangaweka in the south and Waiouru to the north.

Taihape's climate is temperate, with mild summers and frosty winters, with an average of 31 days exceeding 25 °C (77 °F) and 45 nights dropping below 0 °C (32 °F) every year.

The former railways house painted purple located on the highway travelling south into Taihape was once one of the two Buffaloes halls.

The lodge in Taihape once boasted a large membership due in part to the numbers of Railways and Post Office staff stationed in the town.

[11] The Refreshment Rooms still stand on the former station platform, as do the old goods shed and locomotive depot compound at the south end of the rail yard.