[6] Tenders for the 11 mi 41 ch (18.5 km) extension of the NIMT from Ōtorohanga to Te Kuiti were invited in August 1885.

[10] A year later Coates & Metcalfe of Hamilton won the construction contract for £17,273 in September 1886[11] and work started quickly.

[15] Te Kuiti was the terminus for over a year, until the 8 mi 65 ch (14.2 km) extension to Puketutu opened on Wednesday 8 May 1889.

There was a Post Office at the station until 1907, when a stationmaster was reappointed and railway houses, a 50 ft (15 m) turntable and more sidings were built.

[9] The first Auckland - Wellington through expresses ran on 14 February 1909, taking 19 hours 13 minutes, and stopping at Te Kuiti.

After a deputation to the Minister,[19] it was moved from the west to the east (town side) of the tracks in 1911, and a verandah was added.

The station is of weatherboard, with a corrugated-iron roof, gabled at both ends, originally 103 ft (31 m) long, but extended in 1929, 1951 and 1957.