Sellers $2.8m richer in Awaroa beach crowdfunding deal
Shindig at Bell Gully as crowdfunders' money transferred to vendors. With special audio feature.
The Awaroa beach crowdfunding deal is complete, with $2.8 million sent to the seller this afternoon.
The team behind the crowdfunded purchase of a beach at Awaroa, Abel Tasman National Park, met in Auckland to celebrate the shift of money across to the vendor.
The ownership transfers to the Awaroa Beach Property Trust, an interim trust that will exist for as long as it takes to gift the Awaroa beach property as a national park.
All money from the crowdfunding has been held in a Bell Gully trust account and was sent to the seller’s solicitor at 4pm today.
Promoter Duane Major tells NBR Radio he is grateful to all those who donated and gave up their time for the campaign, which began as an idea he hatched with his brother-in-law and co-campaigner Adam Gardner on Christmas Day.
“It’s just stunning that so many people have given with such vision, foresight and values.”
He says he was always confident the goal amount of money would be reached, but didn’t foresee the level of complexity involved in bringing the deal together.
Those attending the celebration included Bell Gully and Harcourt staff – both firms offered their services pro bono – plus Givealittle crowdfunding staff and other supporters.
Bell Gully chairman Chris Gordon says while he has been involved with plenty of high-profile transactions before, this is the first that has “captured the hearts” of New Zealanders.
“We didn’t know quite what we were getting into when we started but we’re proud of what’s been achieved.”
The process of gifting it into a national park involves consultations with iwi, commercial interests and district councils.
There will be another ceremony when it is presented as a gift to the country, possibly at Awaroa.
There were 39,249 public donors pledging $2.5 million, with $350,000 from the government.
The Awaroa beach crowdfunding deal is complete, with $2.8 million sent to the seller this afternoon.Gift Abel Tasman...
Posted by National Business Review on Wednesday, March 16, 2016
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Calida Smylie
Thu, 17 Mar 2016
Thu, 17 Mar 2016
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Sellers $2.8m richer in Awaroa beach crowdfunding deal
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