Crowdfunding allowed New Zealand residents to buy the beach from a businessman, making it public

This wonderful beach will get to future generations, the authors of the project are happy

About 40 thousand people were able to raise about $ 1.5 million with the help of crowdfunding for the purchase of Avaroa Beach (Awaroa) in the Abel Tasman National Park. The beach was put up for sale by the previous owner last year, and now residents of the island have purchased it for public use. True, the government also helped with money, plus another large “contributor” was found.

Fundraising was initiated by a group of friends who wanted to make the beach public. The current owner of the beach - businessman Michael Spackman (Michael Spackman) agreed to sell the beach after four days of negotiations. By the way, the funds were raised in just three weeks, writes Stuff.


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According to representatives of the project team, the government did not make the largest contribution, but it was vital for achieving the goal of the campaign. It may well be that this project will become a precedent for future similar projects, when society buys private property from individual owners.

An interesting moment - a businessman from New Zealand wanted to take part in the project. He planned to make a substantial contribution, but he wanted to get a private beach plot for himself and his family. The authors of the project refused his help, deciding that the beach should belong to everyone.

Plus, the Maori, the local Aboriginal groups, wanted to use the beach. The beach itself is called "seven hectares of utopia" by the beach. Now the government is already working to include the beach in the national park. To get here is not easy - only by air, in most cases. But this place is perfect for relaxing.