Until the early 1990s most of the district was in dairy farms of 40 to 60 hectares (100 to 150 acres), but with the growth of Auckland and the extension of the Northern Motorway into the area, these are being gradually overtime subdivided into lifestyle blocks of around 2 to 5 hectares (5 to 12 acres), many of which are grazing sheep, horses, beef cattle or deer.

Although it still retains a rural character, it is counted as part of the Auckland urban area in official statistics.

[3][4] There is a small village shopping centre and the Dairy Flat Primary School.

[citation needed] In addition to aero club and private aircraft, the field is used by Barrier Air to run a scheduled air service in passenger aircraft to Great Barrier Island, some 40 nautical miles (75 km) offshore of the coast.

In the 1850s, Maurice and Mary Kelly established a dairy farm in the area, likely at the location of the North Shore Aerodrome.

[6] The area was a plentiful source of kauri gum, which was sold at the local kauri gum camps: Bull Town on Poyntons Farm, Tiger Camp, and Horse Shoe Bush/Nanahu.

[8] In 1931, local residents lobbied for the area's name to be changed from Dairy Flat to Pine Valley, but this measure was not successful.