The owners of a pristine Coromandel beach are proposing to put the land in public hands to protect it from development.
New Chums Beach owners and the Environmental Defence Society are asking the Government to buy half of the land by value, while the owners gift the other half.
The money would be put into a new trust established for the purpose of protecting special areas of the coastline and creating a public reserve on the land adjoining the beach.
John Darby, who represents the owners, says they are prepared to make a considerable private gift to help establish the reserve and believe the Government should make a matching contribution.
The value of the land is not yet known.
