One Step at a Time for $10.6 Million Big Wednesday Winners

The $10.6 million Big Wednesday prize won in Reefton last week has been claimed by a South Island family, says NZ Lotteries’ Chief Executive, Todd McLeay.

The stunned family, who wish to remain anonymous, stated that they’re taking things one step at a time, and not dreaming too far ahead...yet.

“Family is our priority, we’ll be looking after them first. But we want our good fortune to be there for our kids and grandkids, so we’re going to make this money last,” said the family spokesperson.

The top prize was won in last Wednesday’s draw, and was a prize package worth $10,648,853, made up of $8,908,793 cash, an Audi R8, a Porsche Cayenne, a $250,000 Visa Platinum card, a $250,000 cash prize towards a luxury travel package, a Four Winns V258 boat and a $750,000 cash prize towards a holiday home.

And as the family also covered Heads and Tails on their Big Wednesday entry, they also won Second Division, adding another $248,085 to their winnings.

The husband of the family was the first to discover their windfall, checking the ticket early on Thursday morning.

“I thought it looked like the winning numbers, but figured I must have got it wrong so just put it aside until I could check it properly later. My wife was still asleep so I didn’t say anything to her.

“It wasn’t until I heard later on during the day that the prize had gone to a ticket sold in Reefton, where I’d bought my ticket, that I realised it was actually me,” the winner said.

“I went home that evening and told my wife – but she wouldn’t believe me. It wasn’t until she’d checked the numbers herself against those on the internet that she finally started to accept it,” he said.

“Even then I didn’t really believe it was happening,” said the wife. “I was pinching myself and thinking ‘well it hurts, maybe it is real’,” she said.

The winning ticket was sold at Gizmos on Broadway in Reefton, the first major prize for the new owners who took over in May, but a store already known as lucky thanks to a $6.1m Powerball prize sold there under previous ownership in 2008.

Meanwhile, another jackpot on Saturday means that Lotto Powerball has reached a massive $24 million in this Saturday’s draw.

“Who knows, perhaps Reefton will strike it luck for a third time!,” said Mr McLeay.

ENDS

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