The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

I help out in a volunteer native nursery at Whangarei Heads, the nursey provides 6000-7000 free native plants per year, to locals in the area who are replanting and reforesting. We would love to grow the critically endangered Pseudowintera insperata which is mostly restricted to the Whangarei Heads, Mt Manaia area. Does anyone know where we can source cuttings, plants or seeds so we can propagate.
Thank you
Robyn

Hi Robyn. Pseudowintera insperata IS now restricted to the Whangarei Heads (where it occurs in two sites). You can get material of it from Oratia Native Plant Nusery (West Auckland, Oratia Road). BUT although scarce the pattern is mostly natural - what would you wish to do with these plants you desire? It is important people don't disrupt natural patterns by planting new populations - unless this is essential to save a species

Thanks for that, perhaps I should not have used the term reforesting. Local people in the area are planting trees on their own land.
My understanding is this plant was on many more headlands in Whangarei Heads in past times than occur now.

Hi - being one of the two people who described this species and has since done more research on it, I can clarify. We have evidence that it was once on Maungatapere - and it should be searched for there again. Otherwise where it now occurs is where it always occurred. The Logues Bush record we now know is a hybrid (P. axillaris x P. colorata). This species is listed as threatened because of the small number of plants and area of occupancy - which is probably more natural than otherwise. Space here is limited so I hope you understand what I am trying to convey - this species is naturally uncommon but at such levels triggers "threatened status" irrespective. Planting further populations may disrupt and obscure natural patterns. Still if people want to do that I can't stop them.