A New Zealand crowdfunding campaign to buy a beach has had its offer accepted, after 40,000 people donated around NZ$2.3 million.

The Awaroa beach in the Abel Tasman National Park, on the north coast of South Island, went on sale last year. A group of friends then launched the campaign in order to secure the beach for public use – a campaign that was contributed to by the government, businesses and schools from New Zealand and Australia.

It’s current owner, businessman Michael Spackman, conducted four days of negotiations with the group before agreeing to sell them the beach, according to local website Stuff.

Campaigner Duane Major said: “We’ve been through the wringer to get it and that’s a shared experience that forms friendships. Now we hope people have shared experiences of this beautiful piece of pristine serene NZ beach and bush.”

New Zealand Conservation Minister Maggie Barry backed the campaign, telling New Zealand TV the generosity of the public during the tender process was “inspirational”.

26/02/2016