A Christchurch family has claimed an incredible $18.3 million from Saturday night’s historic $55 million Must Be Won draw, after buying their first Lotto ticket in around ten years.
The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, said he contacted Lotto NZ within an hour of the live draw because he could not believe what he was seeing.
“This was the first ticket I’ve bought in maybe ten years. I wanted to make sure what I was seeing was right, so I thought the best way was to call the people who drew the numbers,” he said.
He was quickly connected with Lotto NZ’s Winners team, who guided him through the claims process.
The man said he almost skipped buying a ticket altogether, and only remembered the record draw when he saw people lining up during a trip to the supermarket.
“We were doing the usual grocery shop and as we were walking in, I saw the queue to buy tickets. That’s when I remembered the big draw. It’s been so long since I bought a ticket that I had to ask the operator which ticket I needed,” he said.
Later that night he saw a news article listing the winning numbers. When he checked his ticket, he realised he had all six Lotto numbers.
“That’s when I thought I could be in with a chance, then I saw Powerball number six and I was speechless. I told my wife and my mum and dad, and we stayed up talking into the night. None of us could sleep.”
The family hid the winning ticket inside a book on a shelf before heading out for some shopping the next day, but they quickly turned back home.
“All I could think about was the ticket at home and how maybe it wasn’t a good idea to leave it there,” he said.
The man plans to buy his first home, help family members pay off their mortgages, and take advantage of upcoming sales. He said the win will change his family’s future.
“This win opens up a whole new world of opportunities for me and my family. It means my parents can finally retire. It means I can give my children every opportunity to be the best they can be, with some of that everyday financial stress lifted.”
The family has not celebrated yet, but they plan to enjoy a quiet meal at their favourite local restaurant in the coming days.
