The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

The photo attached is of a small shrub in a local coastal reserve outside Warkworth, there are a number of specimens growing under pohutukawas and around the area which also contains privet and other weed species. The habit is as per the photo - most are around a metre tall and given the time of year there is no fruit or flower to assist although one appeared to have small spike inflorescence. Suspect it is an undesirable such as a rhamnus or privet sub-species of some description but haven't been able to confirm from viewing many images. Any ideas welcome

Is Italian evergreen buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus) a possibility?

I think its Rhamnus alternus (or Euonymus japonicus)

Many thanks for your feedback Peter and John. We thought it may be Rhamnus as a probable and I guess that puts it in the non-native but not especially a pest. We'll have another look later in the year when the flower/fruit cycle comes around. Thanks again