$30 Takeaway Celebration for 16 Million Dollar Man

Media Release

25 May 2009

$30 Takeaway Celebration for 16 Million Dollar Man

A hard working family man from Cambridge has today claimed his $16.3 million Lotto Powerball prize, says NZ Lotteries' Chief Executive, Todd McLeay.

The shocked man, who wishes to remain anonymous, celebrated his multi-million dollar windfall by splashing out on a $30 takeaway for family members and a few beers.

The winning ticket was purchased at Countdown in Cambridge, and is worth a total of $16,352,565 with $16,136,286 from Powerball First Division and $216,279 from Lotto First Division.

The man popped into Countdown on Saturday in order to pick up a few things to make a roast dinner for his family that night.

"I normally always take my own numbers, and have done for 20 years, but this time I tried something different and bought a lucky dip.

"It was while we were sitting at the table on Sunday morning that we heard on the radio that the big prize had gone to Countdown Cambridge. So we checked the tickets on the internet. The very first line on my ticket matched the winning numbers.

"I said "Holy crap". It was the most surreal feeling. I kept thinking that I was in a dream and that I was going to wake up," he said.

The man plans to share his good fortune with his family and says he is looking forward to not working so hard anymore.

"I might even retire," he said.

However, he has one action planned for tomorrow. "I'm going to go out and buy a Big Wednesday ticket. I've beaten the odds once - maybe I can do it again!" he said.

"This is the third biggest individual Powerball prize in NZ Lotteries' history. The largest to date was a $19 million Powerball winner who bought a ticket in New Plymouth in April 2008," says Mr McLeay.

Ends

© Scoop Media