'Average' Kiwi Family Now Multi-Millionaires

Media Release 24 August 2011

'Average' Kiwi Family Now Multi-Millionaires

An Auckland man today collected his $12 million share of Lotto Powerball from the weekend's draw, and says he now plans to make the most of "lady luck shining on me."

The man says he has an "average kiwi family" with kids, and was struggling to make ends meet with a mortgage and rising costs.

"My first phone call after the money goes into my account will be to the bank to pay off our mortgage.

Then we can start thinking about some renovations to give our house a badly-needed facelift.

"Financial freedom is all anybody dreams about, so it is still sinking in that my dream has come true."

The man did not realise he was a winner when he took his ticket in to be checked at an Auckland Lotto store, but quickly realised something big was up when the woman behind the counter quietly asked him to come out the back.

"I then realised I might have won more than a bonus line!"

Like the other $12 million winner from Murupara, the man has no plans to quit his day job just yet.

"We do plan to help out family and support our kids' education for their futures," he said.

The Aucklander won $11,853,233 from Powerball, and $200,000 from his share of Lotto First Division. His winning ticket was sold at Hari Superette in Papatoetoe, Auckland.

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