Travel And Houses Are Favourite Dreams

Media Release
21 July 2008

Survey Finds 21 Year Olds Choose Travel And Houses As Favourite Dreams

In order to mark Lotto's 21st Birthday, NZ Lotteries commissioned a survey to find out today's 21 year olds' hopes and dreams and to find out how much money would make them feel rich. The survey confirms that travel and buying houses are still favourite dreams for many young people, but it also reveals that many have more pressing financial concerns such as clearing student loans.

NZ Lotteries asked a thousand 21 year olds what was top of their 'to do' list in the next ten years. The survey shows that, despite the pressure of student loans, top of the list for 34 percent of the 21 year olds was to travel overseas. However, buying a house and getting a good job in the next ten years were also top of the priority list for 22 percent of survey respondents. Getting married was preferred by only 12 percent, and only 5 percent of respondents put having kids at the top of their list.

Today's 21 year olds have relatively modest financial dreams, with 22 percent saying winning $500,000 would make them 'feel rich', and 27 percent saying winning a million would make them feel wealthy. Only nine percent needed $20 million in order for them to feel rich.

Survey respondents were also asked what would be the 'first' thing they would do if they won Lotto. The traditional kiwi dream of buying a house is still alive for today's 21 year olds with 20 percent choosing to do this first if they won Lotto. However, a total of 35 percent of survey respondents seem to have more pressing money concerns with paying off debt (19 percent) or paying off a student loan (17 percent) chosen as the first move after winning a big prize.

Parents will be pleased to know that their children have not forgotten them with 11 percent of winners saying they would pay off their parents' mortgage first if they were lucky enough to win Lotto.

NZ Lotteries was also interested in what presents are being given at 21st parties in the 21st century asking respondents what their favourite gift was. The traditional 21st key still makes an appearance with five percent saying it was their best present. Transport was however considered the best gift with a lucky 31 percent saying they got a car, motorbike or scooter for their 21st.

A further 13 percent chose jewellery or accessories as their best 21st present, whilst ten percent liked getting electronic goods such as ipods, cameras or game consoles. Five percent of respondents said spending time with their family or friends was the best present they got.

More unusual, best 21st presents included rifles, a sewing machine and getting engaged. Four survey respondents were given a house for their 21st, and one person was given a prize-winning Lotto ticket!

NZ Lotteries has chosen to celebrate Lotto's 21st birthday by giving away the largest number of prizes ever in a draw over 2100 cash prizes worth more than $5.4 million.

All Lotto players who purchase a ticket between Sunday 20 July and Saturday 2 August will receive an extra promotion voucher and will go into the draw to win one of the extra prizes in Lotto's 21st Birthday draw, held on 2 August.

The extra birthday prizes include, three top prizes of $1,000,000, two of $500,000, twenty-one of $20,000 and 2100 of $500, making a total of more than $5.4 million extra on offer.

On top of these extra prizes, players will also have the chance to win a share of the millions on offer through Lotto, Strike and Powerball.

"Since the launch of Lotto in August 1987, more than $6 billion has been won by lucky players and NZ Lotteries has returned more than $2.3 billion to communities through the NZ Lottery Grants Board. We are delighted to play a part in making so many Kiwi dreams come true," says Mr McLeay.

Survey Information
The survey sample was 1004 people and it was carried out via SmileCity/TNS in July 2008.

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