Chch Grandmother Harvests $25,000 on Instant Kiwi

Christchurch Grandmother Harvests $25,000 on Instant Kiwi Lucky Pumpkins Ticket

(06 December) Pumpkins have taken on a whole new meaning for a Christchurch grandmother after becoming $25,000 richer this week thanks to a $2 Instant Kiwi Lucky Pumpkins ticket, says NZ Lotteries Chief Executive Todd McLeay.

The retired grandmother, who wishes to remain anonymous, does community volunteer work once a week and sometimes buys an Instant Kiwi ticket to pass the time.

"I scratched the ticket while I was volunteering and couldn't believe my eyes when the third game on the ticket matched three symbols with $25,000 underneath each.

"I'll never look at a pumpkin again without smiling, it's been a lovely surprise," says the winner.

"I have never won more than two or three dollars on my tickets, so I had to show it to a colleague to really believe it and he said it was a winner as well," adds the winner.

Later that day, she went back to the Whitcoulls Bush Inn in Riccarton, where she bought the ticket and claimed her prize.

Staff at Whitcoulls say they are delighted for the winner and were even happier when she returned a couple of days later with some homemade savoury pumpkin muffins to say thank you to the staff.

The grandmother says she will wait until after Christmas to think about what to do with the money but would like to go on a summer holiday and give her grandchildren a treat.

ENDS

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