Media Release 3 September 2012


Broken Couch after $5.5 Million Tuakau Winner’s ‘Man Hug’

A family from the Tuakau region, south of Auckland, are celebrating today after claiming their $5.5 million Lotto Powerball win.

The family, who wish to remain anonymous, found out they were New Zealand’s latest millionaires on Father’s Day – after a relative rang them to see if they had bought a Lotto ticket from Tuakau Four Square.

“We never usually check our tickets on Sunday and we had no idea that the Four Square had sold a big winner. It was a big shock when we did check our ticket and realised we had won,” the winning woman said.

The winners had a few drinks and a Father’s Day BBQ with their extended family to share the news of their win. The happy occasion ended in a brothers’ ‘man hug’ – which resulted in a broken couch.

“The boys were a bit too boisterous for my sister’s old couch – so it now has a few broken slats and a decided lean.

“However, my sister knows I am good for a new one,” she laughed.

Other than a new couch, the family also have a new house on their shopping list so will be making a few calls to real estate agents.

“Like a lot of Kiwis, we buy a Triple Dip every week with the dream of winning the big one. We always joke about what we would do if we won – but it’s quite overwhelming now that it has actually happened to us,” the winners said.

Their winning Lotto Powerball ticket was sold at Tuakau Four Square. The prize is made up of $500,000 from Lotto First Division and $5 million from Powerball First Division.

Meanwhile Big Wednesday jackpotted last week, so there will be $23 million, including all of the luxury prizes, on offer to players this Wednesday.

© Scoop Media