Type locality of Parapercis nigrodorsalis, Ranfurly Bank. Occurs on rocky reef, gravel and rubble bottom on Wanganella Bank, western Norfolk Ridge, Tasman Sea, south to the North Island of New Zealand, from North Taranaki Bight, north to the Three Kings Islands and south-east to the Bay of Plenty and Colville Ridge, in 56-280 m depth. It is apparently relatively common where suitable habitat exists, 14 specimens collected by trawl in 56-280 m. It has also been observed and photographed off the North Island of New Zealand by divers using rebreather apparatus in depths of 55-71 m in the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, at locations known locally as Ngaroimata Point, Northern Arch, Serpent Rock and Landing Bay Pinnacle. A large individual was identified from an underwater photograph taken by Kendall Clements in 2010, at 'The Archways', Burgess Island, Mokohinau Group, outer Hauraki Gulf, at a depth of 16-20 m, the shallowest confirmed record for the species (Ref. 116625).