Two $50,000 Instant Kiwi Prizes Sold In Cambridge

23 August 2005

Two $50,000 Instant Kiwi Prizes Sold In Cambridge In Six Weeks

Cambridge Cards and Copy Centre has made two Instant Kiwi crossword players $50,000 richer in the past six weeks, New Zealand Lotteries Commission (NZ Lotteries) Chief Executive Trevor Hall said today.

The July winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, said they were shaking like a leaf when they found out about the "once-in-a-lifetime" win.

"My first thought was that the mortgage was now paid off!"

The August winner, who also wishes to remain anonymous, said that it was a big thrill to win $50,000.

"We will use the money for house renovations; it's definitely going to come in handy."

Jack Gasnier from Cambridge Cards and Copy Centre said that the wins had gone to two people who the money will make a big difference to.

He said it was amazing, and most unexpected, to sell two big prizes in such a short period of time. He said that staff were still buzzing about it.

"The winners didn't know what they had won. They both thought they were getting $1,000 and when they saw it was $50,000 they were both overwhelmed.

"The day after the first win, the winner came back into the store and shouted a morning tea and bubbly for staff."

Mr Gasnier said that last week's winner had to get a friend to help them fill out the official prize claim form because they were so shaky and excited.

The first top prize was won on a ticket on 8 July on the Crossword Outdoors game. The second $50,000 was won on a ticket on 18 August on the Crossword Sunrise game.

Instant Kiwi began in 1989 as part of the NZ Lotteries game family. On average two or three players each week win $10,000 or more.

ENDS

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