 The roads were still mostly unmetalled in 1920.The kauri timber industry was responsible for developing the area, with logs floated down the Kaukapakapa River to the Kaipara Harbour, where they were loaded onto ships for export.Gum-digging (beginning in 1873-74 and continuing until at least 1914) and flax processing (in the 1880s) were also significant early industries.