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Businessman Gareth Morgan has announced he will pay the $600,000 needed to bring the meet the total of a Givealittle camapign to save an Abel Tasman beach, but he wants private use of part of the beach.
Tenders for the 7ha beach on the Awaroa inlet close on February 16 and Christchurch man Duane Major launched a Givealittle campaign to crowdsource the $2 million needed to place a tender.
Over $1.4 million has been pledged by people and businesses and on Sunday Labour leader Andrew Little said the Government should meet the remaining cost of buying the beach.
Morgan wrote on his blog that he would cover the difference needed for the campaign to reach $2 million, but he wants the section of beach that is currently private to remain that way.
"I will guarantee that the public have access to the same extent that the current owner has kindly bestowed," he said.
"But I will go further than that. I will undertake to give the property to DOC once my family has finished enjoying it.
"But I expect something in return - I want to use the property for my own private benefit meanwhile, just as the current owner does."
The Department of Conservation has previously said that it is not interested in buying the spot because it is not considered a precious ecological site, but it would be open to receiving the land as a gift.
A spokesman said the department could not justify spending $2 million on 800m of beach and a section of kanuka scrub.
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