Winning Winter For The West Coast

Winning Wheel Winner Tops Off A Winning Winter For The West Coast

A lucky ticket bought at Greymouth New World was one of the first five Winning Wheel winning tickets announced on Saturday's Lotto draw, rounding out what's become a winning winter for the West Coast region, New Zealand Lotteries Commission Chief Executive Trevor Hall announced today.

Local Greymouth man Gareth Bunyard will travel to Wellington with a friend or family member in the next few weeks to spin Lotto's Winning Wheel live on the Lotto draw with the chance to win $1 million or other great cash and non-cash prizes.

He'll also receive a "Winners Pack" that includes travel to Wellington, accommodation at the Duxton Hotel, a meal with a Lotto presenter, and an optional mini makeover.

This weekend was also a winning one for Westport with a lucky ticket bought at Freshchoice, Westport taking home the South Island's only Second Division prize from Saturday's Lotto draw.

"That ticket was claimed yesterday and has won a total of $35,388. This fantastic prize is the result of one of the changes made to the Lotto game this month. Second Division winners will now win about five times more than under the old prize structure, from an average of $4,000 to an average of $20,000, or more!"

It's not just big wins with Lotto and Lotto's Winning Wheel heading in the West Coast's direction with promotional prizes going to the region too.

Hokitika's Sue Griffiths won one of 10 limited edition All Black Ford Falcon XR8s in July this year from a Triple Dip ticket purchased at Hokitika New World. The supermarket also sold an $11.5 million Lotto Powerball jackpot ticket in November 2002, the second largest individual prize in New Zealand lottery history.

The South Island in general has been luckier than the North Island with Lotto's Triple Dip promotions. Over the last nine promotions, the South Island made up 23% of the total sales - but won 33% of the promotional prizes.

"Since NZLC was established in 1987, $44,854,443 in prize money from Lotto, Lotto Powerball and Lotto Strike has been won by 1,335,147 winners from the West Coast region.

NZLC's purpose is to provide safe gaming that allows New Zealanders to play and win and contribute money to New Zealand communities.

"We were delighted to transfer funds to the Lottery Grants Board (LGB) who were able to give the West Coast region $800,000 in lottery funding for the year ended 30 June 2003."

The West Coast represented 1% of the national population in the 2001 census and in the 2003 financial year received 2.3% of all lottery funding allocated.

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