Coprosma wallii is endemic to the North, South and Stewart Islands. In the North Island, rather local and with a predominantly eastern distribution from the Ripia River Headwaters to Wairarapa, with only two western populations at Erua and Paengaroa In in the South Island  it is much more widespread in both the east and west (with new populations still being discovered mainly in the west and south). On Stewart Island, only recently (2000) discovered and still only known from one location. It occupies a range of habitats from seasonally flooded, alluvial forest prone to very cold winters and dry summers, to riparian forest and subalpine scrub, or as a component of grey scrub or mixed Podocarp forest developed on steeply sloping basaltic or andesitic rock. The key feature of the majority of C. wallii habitat is that the substrates are rather fertile and the vegetation is limited by frost, water logging, or severe summer drought. Never associated with broad-leaved canopy trees. A small closely leaved, densely bushy, dark green shrub to small tree of 2-5m tall wit stiff branches and dark green rounded, and fairly thick glossy leaves that are paler underneath. Although quite often not recognised for what it is, it does have distinctive spherical pyrenes (seed) inside its dark blue, sometimes dark red or white fruit; all other Coprosma species have pyrenes that are flattened on one side. Another distinguishing mark is its bright orange inner bark. Coprosma wallii has been in decline, it is not as threatened as once believed, several North and South Island populations are in vulnerable habitats or persist as remnant stands within rough pasture and/or along roadsides. In these sites recruitment is limiting or absent. Weeds remain a long term threat at virtually all known habitats. As a somewhat cryptic plant it is also vulnerable through the failure to recognise it. Some populations on track sides and near popular scenic attractions have been damaged by track maintenance.