It is located about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) south of the Waingawa River and is situated in a heavy industrial area.

It served passenger trains until 1992 and now only handles freight (private sidings and special consignments).

[1] Between 1908 and 1912 the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company established their own private siding about 45 chains (3,000 ft; 910 m) south of Waingawa called Taratahi.

In 1921 this became the location of a new station called Waingawa, complete with signalling apparatus, and the name Taratahi ceased to be used.

Since the closure of the freezing works, forestry related businesses and trucking companies have largely supplanted the livestock trade at Waingawa, with the JNL mill now the largest rail customer on site.