New Zealand Beach Bought By Crowdfunding Is Given To Public
by The Daily Eye Team July 14 2016, 12:11 pm Estimated Reading Time: 0 mins, 31 secsA pristine beach in New Zealand bought through a crowdfunding campaign has been handed to its new owners - the public.
Nearly 40,000 people donated almost NZ$2.3m (£1.3m, $1.7m) to buy the Awaroa beach in the Abel Tasman National Park, on the South Island.
Campaigners snubbed a businessman who offered them money in exchange for private access to part of the beach. The seven-hectare site will now be run by a national park.
The previous owner, businessman Michael Spackman, agreed to sell the beach after the online crowdfunding campaign reached its target in a little more than three weeks.