Notelaea apetala is a small tree indigenous to Aotearoa / New Zealand where it occurs on Ika a Maui / North Island (Manawatawhi / Three Kings Islands), Te Paki, Te Aupouri, Northland, Hauraki Gulf islands, Aotea / Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, and associated islands south to Hauturu (Whangamata). It also occurs on Norfolk Island (type locality) where, though present, the species is generally uncommon but seems secure in its habitats. The population is estimated at more than 15,000 mature individuals, of which most are secure on predator free islands where there is ample recruitment. However, there is ongoing loss in sites where browsing animals are not managed. Overall, however, the species is assessed as Least Concern.

This species is indigenous to Aotearoa / New Zealand where it occurs on Ika a Maui / North Island (Manawatawhi / Three Kings Islands), Te Paki, Te Aupouri, Northland, Hauraki Gulf islands, Aotea / Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, and associated islands south to Hauturu (Whangamata). It also occurs on Norfolk Island (type locality). Distribution map is generalised.

No global accurate counts of individuals have been made. The species was treated as a ‘Relict’ by de Lange et al. (2018) with a national population range in New Zealand estimated at 5,000–20,000 mature individuals (a national total of >15,000 seems likely). This assessment was based on the fact that the largest viable populations in Aotearoa / New Zealand are found on secure, predator-free offshore islands that are mostly Nature Reserves with strict permitted landing only. Outside these islands, Notelaea apetala is known from coastal forest, along portions of the Te Paki, Te Aupouri, and mostly eastern Northland Peninsula, and here, some of the key sites are managed as mainland islands – so virtually free of browsing animals. Outside these areas, and on some of the near shore islands without active management the species persists as isolated trees or stands, with little or no recruitment. Collectively though, these sites probably account for <5% of the species range in Aotearoa / New Zealand.

On Norfolk Island Notelaea, though present, is generally uncommon but seems secure in its habitat. Some plants are present in the small forest reserves around the island, however they are most common within the Norfolk Island National Park. In 1998 the author estimated a total population of 2,000 mature wild plants.

Although the longevity of the species is unknown, Notelaea apetala is probably long lived, maybe in excess of 200 years on the basis of historic images and unpublished ring counts. At a national level in New Zealand most of the decline has now happened historically, so a decline rate 2–5% over the next three generations seems likely. Outside those areas where threats cannot be controlled, the species is recovering such that as a whole the total population of this species can be considered to be increasing. The situation of Norfolk Island is, however, unknown, though it is believed to be secure and functional there.

This is a dioecious tree up to 10 m tall inhabiting coastal forest, often along the exposed margins, also on rocky slopes, cliff faces, talus slopes and exposed ridgelines, as well as forming a minor subcanopy in closed forest. Notelaea apetala is often an important component of northern offshore island forests where it co-habits with Pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa), Tawapou (Planchonella costata), Coastal Mahoe (Melicytus novae-zelandiae subsp. novae-zelandiae), Ewekuri (Streblus banksii), Houpara (Pseudopanax lessonii) and Whau (Entelea arborescens) (de Lange 2023). The fruits are fleshy and bird-dispersed.

Notelaea apetala, though probably always confined to the northern portion of Te Ika a Maui / North Island, would have experienced a major range contraction following human settlement of that island. Lowland coastal forest, particularly that around harbours would have been rapidly cleared, and with it prime habitat for Notelaea. Notelaea is also highly palatable, seedlings, saplings and adult trees are sought out by livestock, feral goats (Capra hircus) deer (Cervidae), feral pigs (Sus scrofa), possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and rats (three species). Rats consume seeds, so on those offshore islands with rats present, Notelaea is only found as adults that predate rodent arrival. Fortunately, adult trees are resilient, and provided there are male and female trees present, populations will recover rapidly once browse pressure is managed. An additional threat to these island refugia is fire (human induced or otherwise) especially as some of the islands occupied by this species are remote.

This species is occasionally seen in cultivation and sometimes sold by specialist native plant nurseries. Notelaea apetala has been used for street and park plantings in some locations, such as Tamaki Makaurau / Auckland City.

The majority of the remaining Notelaea apetala population is now found on offshore islands historically free or recently made free from the majority of the browsing animals responsible for its extirpation from Te Ika a Maui / North Island, Aotearoa / New Zealand. On those islands free of browsing animals provided there are male and female Notelaea, recovery of this species is rapid. Therefore, to secure this species requires excellent biosecurity to detect pest incursions and undertake a rapid response to these. An additional threat to these island refugia is fire (human induced or otherwise) especially as some of the islands occupied by this species are remote, so a fire would be difficult to detect. Fortunately, biosecurity and plans for the management of fires and pest incursions have been prepared for the majority of the islands groups supporting Notelaea, by the New Zealand Department of Conservation in partnership with iwi, not so much for this species but rather because the islands it inhabits support a range threatened biota sensitive to the same threats. 

Notelaea apetala has been assessed as a ‘Relict’ species by de Lange et al. (2018) in recognition that most of the decline in the species happened historically, and that with the exception of some parts of this species range, the remaining populations are either stable or increasing in size. The threats facing this species are well known, they can be managed for, and provided they are there is no reason to furnish this species with a higher threat assessment.