Crowdfunding for Awaroa beach hits more than $500,000

UPDATE

Crowdfunding for the purchase of a beach at the top of the South Island reached more than $522,000 in the first week.

Spark boosted the coffers with a pledge of $20,000 and the government had indicated it might join in.

But DOC says the biodiversity values of the property would not justify the $2 million price tag from its perspective.

EARLIER STORY

A crowdfunding effort to raise $2 million for a pristine beach at the top of the South Island has attracted more than $135,000 worth of pledges within 24 hours.

A Givealittle page has been set up by Communitas, a company whose directors include Duane Major, a community worker affiliated with the Spreydon Baptist Church in Christchurch.

He wants to “save” a spit of white sand at Awaroa in the Abel Tasman National Park at the top of the South Island.

His crowdfunding efforts may prove fortuitous for the vendor of the property, Wellington businessman Michael Spackman.

Mr Spackman initially unsuccessfully advertised the property for sale at $2 million in January 2015.

He reopened a renewed marketing push this month with Glenn Dick of Bayleys in a tender closing February 10.

The latest marketing came to the attention of Mr Major and some friends who decided to seek public money to buy it.

Mr Major says he would like to see it vested either with the Department of Conservation or another conservation group with covenants preventing future private ownership.

Awaroa is one of the many inlets and estuaries that trampers pass by on the coastal walk there.

It is about two hours' walk from the Totaranui DOC camp.

Water taxis also land on the beach to drop off trampers and visitors to Awaroa Lodge.

The park was acquired by the Crown in several stages in the latter half of the 19^th century with the last large parcel acquired in 1943. A handful of small freehold enclaves remain.

The 7.3ha of Awaroa beach is half-covered in bush, with a tongue of sand extending into the estuary. It is subject to erosion and accretion.  

There are a couple of rustic buildings on site. Any new private owner wishing to build would need to go through the resource consent process and any provisions in the local district plan.

According to land records the property changed hands in September 2008 for $1.9 million.

A historical memorial shows Wellington property developer Mark Dunajtschik held a mortgage over the property until August 2015. The current mortgage is with BNZ.

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