Protected natural area design and location in New Zealand

Have principles of reserve design been successfully applied to improve the system of New Zealand's mainland reserves, and how useful will they be in the future? Examples are given from the past work of New Zealand Forest Service reserves committees, the Protected Areas Scientific Advisory Committee, and other agencies. How valid and useful are the concepts of Ecological Regions and Districts to the Protected Natural Areas Programme? Is this programme merely improving our biological data bases or has it made significant improvements to the New Zealand reserve system?