New Zealand, like many countries concerned with conservation issues, is reforming its legislation to provide more comprehensive protection of biological diversity and individual species. The basic aim is simple: if you want to protect animals and plants you have to protect their habitat. The problem is, of course, that humans share the very same habitat. How then can the right balance between use and protection be found? Of the principal Acts guiding the protection and preservation of land, animals and plants (such as the 1953 Wildlife Act or the 1987 Conservation Act) the 1991 Resource Management Act (RMA) marks an important turning-point. It aims to integrate development and conservation. The RMA promotes sustainable management of natural and physical resources. Any destruction of, damage to, or disturbance of, the habitats of plants and animals on land, in coastal marine areas and in lakes and rivers is seen as unsustainable, thus to be avoided.The use of the concept of sustainability is a first in national legislation and makes the RMA a leader around the world. However, its successful enforcement is ultimately a matter of changed attitudes. Here the law can only give some guidance.