The Manaia Pygmy Pipehorse occurs in the Southwest Pacific Ocean off northern New Zealand, where it has been found in mixed habitats at depths of 10–17 m. It is mainly threatened by habitat degradation due to coastal development, pollution, fisheries, the introduction of non-native species, and climate change. There are no population estimates available for this pygmy pipehorse to date and declines in its habitat quality have not been quantified. However, declines in its habitat quality are not suspected to have led to a sufficient population reduction to approach the threshold for a threatened assessment under criterion A.

Although its extent of occurrence (EOO, based on known occurrence records, is approximately 412 km²) meets the criterion B1 threshold for Endangered, the Manaia Pygmy Pipehorse does not meet the required subcriteria as the number of locations, severe fragmentation, and extreme fluctuations are not known, and it is unclear whether declines are occurring across all its associated habitats. Thus, this pipehorse does not qualify for a threatened assessment under criterion B.

Currently, therefore, the Manaia Pygmy Pipehorse is assessed as Least Concern.

The Manaia Pygmy Pipehorse occurs in the Southwest Pacific. It has only been found along the eastern coasts of the North Island of New Zealand, where it has been recorded from the Cavalli Islands to the Poor Knights Islands (Short and Trnski 2021). This pygmy pipehorse may be an endemic species restricted to the temperate waters off the northern part of North Island, New Zealand (Short and Trnski 2021). It has a known extent of occurrence (based on specimens recorded in Short and Trnski 2021) of approximately 412 km².

There are no dedicated surveys or population estimates for the Manaia Pygmy Pipehorse to date. The limited number of specimens and observations recorded to date may suggest low abundance throughout its range (Short and Trnski 2021).

Given the low decline in its habitat quality, its population is suspected to be declining at a level that has not approached the threshold for a threatened assessment under Criterion A.

The Manaia Pygmy Pipehorse inhabits shallow coastal waters at depths of 10–17 m (Short and Trnski 2021). This pygmy pipehorse has been found in habitats with coralline algae, bryozoans, sponges, solitary corals, turf algae, rhodoliths, Ecklonia kelp, and a mixture of green (e.g. Caulerpa), brown, and red algae (Short and Trnski 2021). It has a maximum recorded total length of 6.1 cm (Short and Trnski 2021). Little is known about its feeding, but this species is likely similar to other Syngnathids that feed on small crustaceans such as copepods and amphipods (Dawson 1985, Kendrick and Hyndes 2005, Manning et al. 2019). It is ovoviviparous and brooding occurs within an enclosed male brood pouch located under the tail (Short and Trnski 2021).

The primary threat to the Manaia Pygmy Pipehorse is habitat degradation. Coastal marine ecosystems in New Zealand are under pressure from development, pollution, fisheries, introduction of non-native species, and climate change (Anderson et al. 2019; Ministry for the Environment and Stats New Zealand 2019, 2022). Increased sediment loads have been observed in North Island, mainly due to increased erosion rates from deforestation (Ministry for the Environment and Stats New Zealand 2022).

According to the review of New Zealand’s key biogenic habitats by Anderson et al. (2019), kelp forest coverage has remained stable, bryozoan thicket coverage has decreased, and stony coral coverage has declined by 25–75% in fished areas but remained stable in unfished areas. Trends in the coverage of algal meadows, rhodolith beds, and sponge gardens are unknown due to limited data availability (Anderson et al. 2019).

The quality of the Manaia Pygmy Pipehorse’s habitat is declining in some areas, but the decline has not been quantified and is suspected to have occurred at a level that has not led to sufficient population reduction to approach the threshold for a threatened assessment.

The Manaia Pygmy Pipehorse has not been recorded in trade. Other Syngnathids have been traded for aquaria, curios, and traditional medicine (Vincent et al. 2011), but the level of trade in this pipehorse, if any, is unknown.

There are no species-specific management or conservation measures in place for the Manaia Pygmy Pipehorse. It is not listed under any international legislation or trade regulations. This pipehorse likely occurs in several protected areas throughout its range, such as the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2022).

Further research is needed to determine population and habitat trends. Conserving coastal marine habitats and mitigating climate change are necessary for the continued persistence of this pygmy pipehorse.