2 December 2011
Retired Rotorua Woman now Millionaire with Big Wednesday
A retired Rotorua woman can’t believe her luck after winning a Big Wednesday First Division prize package of $3.4
million, says NZ Lotteries’ Chief Executive, Todd McLeay.
The woman, who buys a Lotto and a Big Wednesday dip ticket most weeks, was watching the live draw on Wednesday night.
“I wrote down the numbers to check, and thought I was doing pretty well when I got four in a row on one line. Then I
just kept going and realised that I had them all right!” she said.
“I rang my daughter to double check the results and she thought I was having a heart attack, as I could hardly get any
words out.
“My grandson was sent around with some Big Wednesday results he found online to make sure I was a winner – but that
caused lots of confusion because he had printed out last week’s results!
“It’s just so exciting. My family always tease me about buying my Lotto tickets, and I always get them for birthday
presents too – now they will be wishing I had bought them the winning ticket.
The woman plans to pay off the last of her mortgage with her win, help out some family members, and will put the rest
away safely in a bank.
“It will be fantastic to finally be mortgage-free at my age, and to splash out on making my life easier – such as
getting my lawns mown for me,” she said.
“This is the second consecutive week that Big Wednesday has been struck, with a local couple from Greymouth claiming
their prize from last week in Wellington on Wednesday,” says Mr McLeay.
“The Rotorua winner has won a prize package worth $3,412,300 which consists of $2 million cash, a Lamborghini Gallardo
LP560-4, an Audi Q7, a Rayglass 2200 boat, $50,000 cash towards luxury travel, $50,000 loaded onto a Platinum VISA card
and $675,000 cash towards a bach, says Mr McLeay.
Her winning Heads and Tails ticket was sold at Pak N’ Save Rotorua.
ENDS