Retired Man’s $12.9 Million Win Gets Heart Racing

A retired Auckland man has today come forward to claim his $12.9 million Lotto Powerball prize, says NZ Lotteries’ Chief Executive, Todd McLeay.

The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, decided to splash out on his Christmas Lotto ticket, after winning a small sporting bet with friends.

“I was feeling lucky after my small win, so decided to try for a big win,” the man said.

The man realised he had won the big one after reading the paper on Boxing Day morning and checking the draw numbers.

“I just felt numb, and then felt my heart racing, it was hard to believe that I had the winning ticket in my wallet,” he said.

The man told his close family of his good fortune and they celebrated with spontaneous champagne breakfast.

Before travelling to Wellington to then claim his prize the man hid his ticket in an unusual place – his blood pressure monitor.

“I figured that the ticket kept making my heart go nuts, so it was an appropriate place to keep it,” the winner said.

The man plans to pay off the last of his mortgage and help out close family with his win.

“I also want to invest in some good New Zealand businesses and help out some charities – especially those that help grow and support our emerging athletes,” he said.

The man also has one wish list item to tick off – a new car. “There is a Ferrari dealership not far from the Lotteries office, so I might go and visit them today,” he joked.

The winning Lotto Powerball ticket was sold at Magascene, Takapuna in Auckland and is worth a total of $12,991,369, with $12,658,036 from Powerball First Division and $333,333 from Lotto First Division.

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