Hmmm - to the sound of a bitter laugh - or pohutukawa! Which was never threatened with extinction at all (though who knows what the future holds with myrtle rusts impacts as yet unknown). I agree it is astounding though that a 30m tall tree as spectacular as this has quite failed to capture the public's conservation eye. Its been sold in nurseries for nearly 30 years and yet hardly rates a mention in most literature available on the cultivation of New Zealand's native plants. I would understand, but not accept the same perception for a plant like Chenopodium detestans but not a beautiful, stately tree with such attractive flowers!