Lotto Lightning Strikes Twice For Big Winner

06 September 2011

Lotto Lightning Strikes Twice For Big Winner

A Wairarapa man now believes that lightning does strike twice after collecting his second big prize from NZ Lotteries today, says NZ Lotteries’ Chief Executive Todd McLeay.

The Martinborough local won half a share of Saturday’s Lotto Powerball First Division prize of $2,833,333, about 12 years since he won about a quarter of a million with Lotto First Division in another town – and he’s going to do things differently this time round!

“I was a bit younger back then, and had a lot of fun with it, but this time I’m going to be sensible with the money, as I’m planning on using this for my retirement fund,” says the doubly lucky winner.

“I’m going to see the bank manager tomorrow, will leave it in the bank for three months, and think about what I’m going to do with it in the meantime.”

The winner shared the prize with a friend, and after watching the draw together the friend had quite a different reaction to the experienced winner.

“We saw the Lotto draw live on TV and recognised our numbers, but weren’t sure about the Powerball. We checked it on Teletext, and it started to seem real, so I went to sleep – but he couldn’t go to sleep until the ticket was verified the next day,” jokes the new winner!

Another remarkable event happened in Martinborough on Saturday night, with local Lotto retailer Pain and Kershaw not only selling the winning Lotto Powerball ticket, but also selling the Winning Wheel ticket.

“This hasn’t happened before, and it’s such a statistically unlikely occurrence that a winning Lotto Powerball ticket would be sold in the same store as a winning Winning Wheel serial numbered ticket that we’re all quite astounded by the coincidence,” says Mr McLeay.

The Winning Wheel winner has also claimed their prize and will be spinning the wheel in October for their chance to win up to a million on the live Lotto draw.

Owner operator of the 138 year old family store, David Kershaw is blown away by the weekend’s run of winning tickets.

“When my staff called Sunday morning to let me know what had happened I was sure someone had made a mistake – but no, and we’re thrilled that all the winners are locals.

“There’s been a lot of talk in the store and around the town about who has won, and although I know, I’m keeping it schtum to keep their anonymity as requested,” says Mr Kershaw.

The Lotto Powerball winners plan to try and keep a low profile, and have asked to be kept anonymous.

The other Lotto Powerball winners from Auckland are yet to claim their prize.

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