Coprosma pseudocuneata is endemic to the North, South and Stewart Islands and is found from the Raukumara range in the North Island of New Zealand south as far as Stewart Island at an altitude range of 240 –1525m asl. Its habitat is montane to lower sublapine forest and scrub. Coprosma pseudocuneata is a densely leafy erect open-branched variable shrub up to 3 m tall with stout branches. Its young branchlets are more or less hairy with long narrow dark green leaves or yellow green with short broad leaves, clustered on short hairless stalks. It has solitary light yellow flowers from December to January and its fruits appear February till May. The oblong 5–6 mm long fruits are usually red, orange-red, orange, pale purple, pale yellow or yellowish white.