It lies considerably south of the Taitā Gorge which separates Lower Hutt City from Upper Hutt City, and to the west of the Taitā Cemetery in the suburb of Naenae.

Taitā's urban development began around the middle of the 20th century as part of the Labour Government's state-housing scheme.

The Taita Railway Station opened in 1947 to serve the developing suburb.

On the eastern side of Taitā, above Taita College, stand the buildings of the former Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) Soil Bureau.

The Soil Bureau became part of Landcare Research New Zealand Limited in 1992 and much of the functionality formerly carried out at Taitā has moved to the Turitea campus of Massey University in Palmerston North.