This paper backgrounds the evolution of the establishment and management of protected natural areas in New Zealand from the time of European colonisation to the present network of more than 1600 protected natural areas extending over some 16% of the country’s land area. It examines the adoption of the concept of national parks from 1887 commenting on the citizen/public agency structure for policy development and management and outlining current developments in public use and administration of protected natural areas. It discusses the growing emphasis on achieving the goal of preserving representative examples of all classes of natural ecosystems and landscape which have given New Zealand its own recognisable character. It discusses mechanisms which foster nature conservation on private land and the co-operative role of urban parks and reserves in achieving society’s nature conservation goals.