Leptospermum repo was described in 2021 (de Lange and Schmid 2021). A recent paper (Chagné et al. 2023), on the basis of microsatellite data, attempted to refute Leptospermum repo, preferring to recognise an endemic L. scoparium, despite obvious genetic structure suggesting otherwise. As such their view is not accepted here (see comments by de Lange et al. 2023).

Leptospermum repo is a shrub or small tree endemic to Aotearoa / New Zealand where it is found in a narrow range of less than 100 km² on Te Ika a Maui / North Island. The species now occupies 10% of its former range and subpopulations are often scattered and in some locations the species is down to a single plant. Outside protected areas the species is declining. However, the species population is estimated to be in excess of 200,000 individuals and in key populations, all of which are protected, Leptospermum repo is abundant, showing good population structure. Population trends and the potential threat of the rust fungus Austropuccinia psidii needs to be monitored, but for now the species is assessed as Least Concern.

This species is endemic to Te Ika a Maui / North Island of Aotearoa / New Zealand. It is formerly ranging from Te Aupouri south to Taranaki, the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Now known only from the Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty. The area of occupancy is believed to be less than 100 km². Distribution map is generalised.

Leptospermum repo now occupies 10% of its former range (de Lange and Schmid 2021). The species population is estimated to be in excess of 200,000 subadults and adults. The main subpopulations are confined to the Whangamarino Wetlands, Opuatia in the lower Waikato and Torehape and Kopouatai Peat Bogs in the Hauraki. Scattered remnant populations remain along roadsides, on the margins of drains or in fragmented and usually irreversibly damaged peat bogs in the Hamilton Basin and near Maketu, at the Kaituna Wetland, Bay of Plenty. Scattered sites, sometimes reduced to single plants are known from the Coromandel Peninsula and near Rotorua. Outside of protected areas populations are declining. However, in the key populations, all of which are protected, Leptospermum repo is abundant, showing good population structure.

Herbarium specimens show that this species was once more widespread than de Lange and Schmid (2021) suggested but as those authors noted, widespread peat bog draining had eliminated the species from most of its range by the mid-1960s.

A shrub or small tree confined to oligotrophic wetlands reaching its greatest numbers in restiad bogs where it grows with Empodisma robustum and Sporadanthus ferrugineus. Leptospermum repo is also common in less acidic bogs dominated by Empodisma robustum, Machaerina and Schoenus species (de Lange and Schmid 2021, de Lange 2024). In these habitats it is often the dominant woody species, reaching its greatest abundance within the lag and rand zones of the large peat bogs. The species is also common on the damaged / partially drained margins of peat bogs.

Most of the decline of Leptospermum repo has been historic. The species vanishing as the peat bog habitats it is virtually confined to were drained for agriculture and urban development (de Lange and Schmid 2021). As Leptospermum aff. scoparium (c) (AK191319; "Waikato peat bog"), L. repo had been listed by de Lange et al. (2018) as "Threatened / Nationally Critical" qualified "DP [Data Poor]", "De [Designated’]". This listing the result of a precautionary approach following the detection of Austropuccinia psidii an invasive rust which causes myrtle rust disease (de Lange and Schmid 2021) in Aotearoa / New Zealand in May 2017. Although the range if this rust has increased its impact on Leptospermum has to date been less than was anticipated, so for now the threat status of  Leptospermum repo has been reassessed to ‘At Risk / Declining’ (de Lange et al. 2024) on the basis of the known area of occupancy ≤ 10,000 ha. Existing populations in the key locations (Whangamarino, Opuatia, Torehape and Kopouatai Peat Bogs) are large (in excess of 200,000 subadults and adults estimated), functional and considered stable. Outside these areas the species is being lost through land clearance, roading and ongoing habitat loss as the consequence of past and ongoing wetland modification and drainage.

The main threat to this species now is ignorance, in part caused by conflicting taxonomic opinion influenced heavily by the ‘manuka honey industry’ which has been keen to confirm the endemic status of Leptospermum scoparium – the parent species from which L. repo was segregated – suggested by Buys et al. (2019) but also desiring to accept one species to justify widespread plantings of ‘improved’ selections for the honey industry (see summary in de Lange and Schmid (2021)). Taxonomic segregation poses a problem for plantings as this necessitates more care over the location of plantings to prevent hybridization with local indigenous populations. The matter is further muddied by Maori, some of whose iwi want local the genetic integrity of local Leptospermum populations protected from the honey industries plantings and others who want widespread plantings to increase honey yields for their businesses. Pragmatic taxonomic decisions are therefore being overlooked or discredited which an unfortunate consequence to the conservation of Leptospermum of Aotearoa / New Zealand (see comments by de Lange et al. 2023).

Overarching all of this is the one threat that cannot be managed. That is the spread of Austropuccinia which will at some stage impact on the species. As yet there are no known effective treatments to prevent the spread and impact of this rust on its hosts.

Though easily grown from fresh seed (de Lange and Schmid 2021) the species is scarce is cultivation.

Leptospermum repo is currently considered secure in its key wetland strongholds in the great Waikato. No conservation action is needed to maintain populations in those locations. Outside these locations however, the species is still in decline and it will in some cases be extirpated as smaller populations continue to be lost through wetland drainage, road works, drain maintenance and spurious taxonomic thinking accepting a single genetically and morphologically variable species – so putting at risk L. repo through the views that it is only L. scoparium – which as circumscribed by de Lange et al. (2023) remains a widespread and variable species. Potential loss of smaller populations through introgression with deliberate plantings of ‘improved Leptospermum scoparium’ selections is a serious ongoing risk encouraged by the honey industry.