Christchurch Lotto Winners Dancing Down The Aisle

Media Release 03 February 2009

Christchurch Lotto Winners Dancing Down The Aisle

A Christchurch family can't stop dancing since finding out they won half a million dollars in last weekend's Lotto draw. The practice will come in handy this Saturday - the day of their wedding!

The couple and their three young children literally jigged into NZ Lotteries' Wellington office this week to claim their $508,529 First Division Lotto prize, but the celebrations had started early Sunday after they checked their results.

The couple had been buying "bubbles" whenever it was on special at the supermarket to stock up for their wedding, so had plenty on hand to celebrate their win.

"I had my hens do on Friday, and recovered on Saturday, then it started all over again when we actually realised we'd won and had friends and family over for a few celebratory drinks," says the winning wife-to-be.

"I found out through the results in the paper, then checked again, and rechecked, then screamed. My mum thought I'd hurt myself so came running out to see what was wrong. She couldn't find her glasses so couldn't recheck the numbers right away.

"It wasn't until we went back to Redcliffs New World to check the ticket, then saw the First Division winner sign and lights flashing that it really hit me we'd won," she says.

The couple, who have been together for 12 years, say they've struggled financially for years and had been trying to buy a house, but this win has changed their life - and changed their plans for a honeymoon too.

"We were just going to go away for a few days and probably camp somewhere, but it'll be a lot longer now, and we'll be staying somewhere with real beds - and childcare options!" says the soon-to-be groom.

"We're going to enjoy the win for a while, but then we'll be able to buy a house, and that's what we've been battling to do all these years - so our dreams have come true at last."

Last weekend's other First Division prize winner from Auckland is yet claim.

ENDS

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