Coprosma pedicellata is a shrub or small tree, endemic to Aotearoa / New Zealand, where it occurs from Rotu, Kaihu River Valley Te Ika a Maui / North Island south to Southland, Te Waipounamu / South Island. The total population size is estimated at 2,000–3,000 mature individuals. There is an estimated continuing decline in subpopulations, and each subpopulation has fewer than 1,000 individuals. The species is assessed as Vulnerable.

This species is endemic to Aotearoa / New Zealand, from Rotu, Kaihu River Valley Te Ika a Maui / North Island south (mainly eastern) to Southland, Te Waipounamu / South Island.

The species is scarce in Te Ika a Maui / North Island, with some subpopulations numbering ten or fewer plants, the largest subpopulations occur in the eastern Wairarapa along the flood plain of the Wainuioru River – these may have up to one hundred individuals. In Te Wai Pounamu / South Island, Coprosma pedicellata is known from scattered sites on the upper portion of the Canterbury Plains, where some subpopulations may contain several hundred plants. Since it was described in 1999 (Molloy et al. 1999) Coprosma pedicellata has been found in Northland (four plants and scattered saplings Townsend et al. (2010)) and in Southland including the eastern flanks of Fiordland National Park. The largest subpopulations are in Southland numbering in the low 1,000's. From these figures an estimated population of 2,000–3,000 mature individuals seems plausible. The most threatened subpopulations are in Te Ika a Maui / North Island where only a few occur on protected land (reserves and covenants) are all are threatened by invasive plants, changes in hydrology and, in the majority of sites, browsing animals (Molloy et al. 1999). Some of the Canterbury subpopulations are protected and when surveyed in the 1990's were mostly in good condition with reasonable recruitment. Most of the Southland subpopulations, notably those nestled in valleys along the eastern foothills of Fiordland, are in particularly good condition. Nationwide though, the overall situation suggests that at the majority of sites Coprosma pedicellata subpopulations are in gradual decline.

Coprosma pedicellata is a dioecious shrub or small tree of the understory of riparian forest dominated by Dacrycarpus dacrydioides and Prumnopitys taxifolia, often with varying proportions of Plagianthus regius subsp. regius, Podocarpus totara var. totara, Hoheria angustifolia and Sophora microphylla (Molloy et al. 1999). In some sites it is associated with Nothofagus solandri. In these habitats, Coprosma pedicellata often grows along water courses, old stream channels, oxbow lakes, and ponds. The species is tolerant of waterlogged soils and flooding and is often found in deeply shaded sites. Molloy et al. (1999) based on a small sample size suggested that the species may live for upwards of 50 years, and further that the composition of many populations suggested the species regenerated in even-aged cohorts following disturbance, possibly from flooding. The association in which Coprosma pedicellata is found is also a recognised ‘hot spot’ for threatened / uncommon plants. For example, Molloy et al. (1999) noted that in many sites Coprosma obconica, C. wallii, Melicytus flexuosus, Teucrium parvifolium, Pittosporum obcordatum, Mazus novaezeelandiae and Urtica perconfusa co-associate. In Te Ika a Maui other associates may include Olearia gardneri (Molloy et al. 1999) and Simplicia felix (de Lange et al. 2016) and in the Te Wai Pounamu / South Island Carmichaelia kirkii (Molloy et al. 1999).

Coprosma pedicellata is in gradual decline throughout most of its range. The most threatened subpopulations are those in Te Ika a Maui / North Island (Northland, Tairāwhiti and the Wairarapa), as these are small (sometimes with four or fewer plants), often on private land, or in forest remnants with serious invasive plant issues, unrestricted browsing pressure from livestock and drying out due to changes in the local ground water aquifer. Drought at these sites can be a major threat. The subpopulations of the Canterbury Plains, Te Wai Pounamu / South Island, though larger, are subjected to similar threats, though the majority of these are now protected as conservation covenants or reserves. While protection removes the immediate threat of habitat loss through land clearance and development, ongoing changes to the local ground water and flood regime, damage from unrestricted access from livestock (as well as browse pressure from possums (Trichosurus vulpecula)) and the spread of invasive plants remain serious threats. Those subpopulations in Southland offer the best security for the species as these are larger, often abut tracks of indigenous vegetation rather than farmland, have fewer weed issues and an intact hydrological regime – with seasonal elevated water tables and more frequent flood cycles.

This species is occasionally cultivated in Aotearoa / New Zealand in Botanic Gardens.

Coprosma pedicellata needs a nation-wide survey to ascertain a clearer population size, along with a monitoring regime in key sites throughout its range to determine trend. The species is mostly scarce and believed to be in gradual decline throughout 70% of its range. It is believed secure in the remaining 30% based on numbers of plants, recruitment, land security and habitat quality. It is for these reasons it has been assessed as ‘At Risk / Declining’ by de Lange et al. (2018). The security of the species is, however, assured at some sites because of the presence of other more threatened or more iconic co-associates such as Carmichaelia kirkii or Pittosporum obcordatum. While fencing of forest remnants helps secure the species in the short-term, the subsequent increase in swarding weed species such as grasses suppressed by browsing animals inhibits regeneration. Further for many sites nearby urban settlements or farming may have altered the seasonally high-water table and flooding regimes. 

Long-term security of this species will only be assured when a management regime that allows for periodic canopy disturbance, invasive plant suppression and appropriate seasonally elevated water levels and/or flooding is devised. At this stage such a regime has yet to be modelled and trialled. Yet it is urgently needed research, not only to secure Coprosma pedicellata, but the many other threatened or uncommon species (plant and animal) found in the same vegetation association.

New Zealand Threat Classification System assessed this species as ‘At Risk / Declining’ Qualified ‘CD’ [Conservation Dependent], ‘DP’ [Data Poor], ‘RR’ [Range Restricted] (de Lange et al. 2018).