In its typical form, Pittosporum ellipticum is a well-marked, distinctive species. However, around the Karangahake Gorge and south of there to the Waioeka Gorge plants referrable to P. ellipticum var. decorum occur. These are rather intermediate with P. huttonianum. Further study is needed to resolve this problem. For the time being P. e. var. decorum is included within P. ellipticum by New Zealand Botanists.

Pittosporum ellipticum is a small tree endemic to Aotearoa / New Zealand where it occurs on Ika a Maui / North Island; Te Paki south to Pirongia in the west and Tairawhiti / East Cape and Waioeka Gorge in the east. The population is suspected to be fewer than 10,000 mature individuals and it is considered a naturally uncommon species. There is some decline in sites where browsing animals are not managed, or forest succession has over-topped trees. The area of occupancy is less than 2,000 km² but the species is thought to occur in more than 10 locations. It is assessed as Near Threatened.

This species is endemic to Aotearoa / New Zealand where it occurs on Ika a Maui / North Island; Te Paki south to Pirongia in the west and Tairawhiti / East Cape and Waioeka Gorge in the east. Distribution map is generalised.

No nation-wide accurate counts of individuals have been made. The species was treated as ‘At Risk / Naturally Uncommon’ by de Lange et al. (2018) qualified ‘Sp’ [Sparse] to reflect the fact that this species does appear to be biologically uncommon over its known range. While the species is browsed by introduced animals, and most common in places free of these animals, it has never been considered common, and is often known over large parts of its range from single specimens or small, isolated stands. A national population of ≤10,000 mature individuals seems likely (in reality it is unlikely to be more than this and probably much less – a population census of the species would be useful).

This is a  gynodioecious tree up to 8 m tall (usually much less) that is mostly associated with Kauri Pine (Agathis australis) forest, where it often grows on ridge lines, slips scars or in secondary regrowth within cut over kauri forest. Outside this forest association it is often found as part of the understory in Celery Pine/tanekaha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides), towai (Pterophylla sylvicola) or kamahi (Pterophylla racemosa) dominated forest. Occasionally it can be found growing along flood prone streams and rivers. Irrespective of the vegetation associations it grows in this species prefers relatively open sites, especially along track and roadsides where it typically forms apparently evenly-aged cohorts that probably stem from a single germination event following disturbance. Although the longevity of the species is unknown, Pittosporum ellipticum is probably short lived, specimens are unlikely to live for longer than 20 years.

Pittosporum ellipticum seems to have always been a biologically sparse species. Irrespective due to its association with kauri forest the species would have experienced a major range contraction following kauri forest. Pittosporum ellipticum 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) which consume seeds. So, the species is most common in places where these animal pests are absent or controlled.

Pittosporum ellipticum seems to require disturbance to encourage recruitment, the species is usually found in sites where there has been trees toppled by storms, slips or locations which are kept naturally open due to their degree of exposure of wind, sun, and rain or that they overly skeletal soils. In some locations the species may be known from single trees or small stands of 3–10 individuals, the species is most common where there has been considerable disturbance from past logging, burnings and the building of tracks or roads.

Nationally the species was assessed as ‘At Risk / Naturally Uncommon’ by de Lange et al. (2018), qualified ‘Sp’ [Sparse]. This assessment accurately reflects what is known of this species biology and distribution.

This species is occasionally seen in cultivation and sometimes sold by specialist native plant nurseries. Although an attractive small tree it is often hard to maintain in cultivation and is prone to sudden collapse in times of stress.

Beyond generic wild animal control, no specific management action is needed to ensure this species' survival. A nationwide population census is needed and failing that selected sites encompassing the range of the species should be monitored to determine trends.