Jacqueline Evans (conservationist)

It provided for the sustainable management of 763,000 square miles (1.98 million km2) of ocean territory, including 15 more highly protected exclusion zones covering 125,000 (324,000 km2).

Five years later, she was appointed programme manager at the environmental NGO Te Ipukarea Society, liaising with government agencies on the development of structures for the marine park.

[2][5] Striving to gain public support for the marine park, she travelled extensively throughout the islands with government and NGO experts, building up trust with local communities.

[3] Despite a number of obstacles, on 13 July 2017 the government adopted the Marae Moana Act covering the sustainable management of the Cook Islands ocean territory.

[2] In recognition of her achievements, in April 2019 Jacqueline Evans was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her work on preserving marine biodiversity and protecting Cook Island traditions.