A crowdfunding campaign for a beach in New Zealand turned out to be a successful one, raising over NZ$2 million, equivalent to about $1.3 million, to purchase the property and prevent it from being snatched up by a private entity.
The Awaroa Inlet beach, which stretches for almost half a mile, will be donated to the adjacent Abel Tasman National Park and will be opened for public use.
According to the crowdfunding campaign page for the cause, the project started out as a Christmas Day conversation that turned into a dream, in which the beach up for sale is to be gifted to the New Zealand public.
A month since the creation of the campaign page and after pledges made by almost 40,000 backers, supported by the government stepping in to make a contribution, the crowdfunding idea is now a success story.
"Congratulations everyone! We did it!!" the organizer of the campaign, emphatically wrote on his Facebook page after the target was reached.
Duane Major said to Radio New Zealand that the exact details of the transaction would be revealed soon, but the important thing was that the campaign succeeded in bringing the pristine beach to the New Zealand public and to their children.
"It's an outstanding outcome. I love the idea that the people of New Zealand have not only spoken, but they've put their tuppence-worth in," said Maggie Barry, the country's conservation minister, who added that the government's contribution to the purchase was drawn from its nature heritage fund.
There was also some last-minute drama, as a businessman and philanthropist offered to make a contribution for any shortfall that the campaign would need filled in exchange for being granted exclusive access to a part of the beach. The offer was rejected.
The campaign also had to negotiate with local Maori groups, who insisted that the beach should be gifted to them instead.
Crowdfunding, as a means of raising money for a certain project or cause, has always been a hit-or-miss proposition. While there are cases when a campaign leads to the development and release of amazing video games and very useful products, for example, there are also instances when the raised by crowdfunding is spent on strippers or other trivialities.
