From Ground: Start by thoroughly
watering the ngaio to make the soil and roots easier to work with. Using a spade or shovel, carefully dig a trench around the ngaio, leaving ample space between the base of the plant and the trench. This provides you with enough room to keep the root ball intact during extraction. Once the trench is deep enough, place your spade underneath the root ball and gently lift to remove it.
From Pot: First, water the ngaio to moisten the soil. Then, turn the pot upside down while supporting the ngaio between your fingers. The ngaio should slide out, leaving the root ball undisturbed. If it doesn't easily come out, slightly tap the sides of the pot.
From Seedling Tray: Water the ngaio seedlings and then gently tease them out from the seedling tray. It's important to handle them by their leaves, not roots or stems, to avoid damage.