Dream $10,000 Instant Kiwi Win to Napier Woman

Media Release 7 October 2005

For Immediate Release

Dream $10,000 Instant Kiwi Win to Napier Woman

A local woman, taking a break from work, has 10,000 reasons to celebrate after winning a top Instant Kiwi prize, New Zealand Lotteries Commission (NZ Lotteries) Chief Executive Trevor Hall says.

The winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she bought her weekly Lotto ticket earlier than usual because she wasn't at work.

"I always buy some Instant Kiwis with the change. This week I got three $1 Pipe Dreams tickets, and I scratched them right then.

"I thought I'd won $1000 first, then all the zeros started blurring together in front of my eyes. I'm absolutely rapt with the $10,000 prize."

The winning Instant Kiwi ticket was sold by Andrew Spence Pharmacy, a store which is fast getting a reputation for being 'lucky', after selling a ticket that won a $12 million Lotto Powerball prize in June this year.

Andrew Spence Pharmacy's Lotto operator, Debbie Ainsworth, said it was an exciting day at work because the woman scratched her way to the big win while she was in the shop.

"At first she was calm, and then she got excited as she came to terms with the win."

Ms Ainsworth said the winner was so staggered by the size of the prize that she forgot about her Lotto ticket and left it in the shop.

Since January 2005, $130,000 has been won on Instant Kiwi top prizes in the Hawkes Bay.

On average, between two and three players each week win $10,000 or more on Instant Kiwi games.

ENDS

About NZ Lotteries: NZ Lotteries (New Zealand Lotteries Commission) was established in 1987 and operates in the New Zealand market as a crown entity under the Gambling Act 2003. Its purpose is to provide safe gaming that allows New Zealanders to play and win and contribute money back to New Zealand communities. For more information: www.nzlotteries.co.nz

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