Lotto hits $50m: Which of Auckland's problems could you fix with that money?

Thursday, 27 February 2020

Lotto's Powerball has risen to a whopping $50 million, making us wonder which of Auckland's problems you could fix with all that cash.

'The jackpot has reached a jaw-dropping $50m and must be won this Saturday,' Lotto said.

'If a single player is lucky enough to win Powerball, they'll enter Lotto NZ's history books as the largest prize winner ever.'

Buy the disputed land at Ihumātao, save Unitec from financial hardship, clean up the beaches – you name it, you could do it.

Fletcher Building says it would sell Ihumātao for $40 million.

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* Lotto's 2019 winners reveal their secrets to success**

A $50 million win could help Unitec get out of financial hardship.

RESOLVE THE DISPUTE AT IHUMĀTAO

With your $50m cash injection, you could buy the disputed land near Auckland Airport and have $10m to spare.

According to Radio NZ, Fletcher Building, which purchased the land at Ihumātao for $19m in 2014, would sell it for $40m.

A resolution to the dispute is underway.

Clean up a beach - or buy one - with your newfound cash.

BAIL OUT UNITEC

In 2018, the Government loaned Auckland tertiary education institute Unitec $50m to tide it over in a time of 'extreme financial difficulty'.

The institute, which has more than 20,000 students, indicated a $46m hole in its budget.

With $50 million, you could buy about 12 electric ferries.

With the $50m, you could have saved the institute from financial stress and helped young minds thrive.

CLEAN UP AUCKLAND BEACHES

With your newfound fortune, how about cleaning up some of our favourite spots to relax and enjoy summer?

In 2019, Westland District Council was forced to abandon the cleanup of an old landfill that spilled across 75 kilometres of coastline at Fox River, after spending nearly $600,000.

A woman who won a share of a $30 million Lotto powerball jackpot says the win has changed her life. (First published October 2019)

With $50m, you could definitely make a substantial difference to the cleanliness of beaches across Auckland.

BUY A BEACH … OR A FEW

While you're cleaning them up, why not buy them too?

In 2016, Kiwis put their money together to buy Abel Tasman beach – a seven-hectare lot at the Awaroa Inlet – for $2m.

According to SafeSwim, there are nearly 100 beaches, outlets and lagoons across Auckland that are safe to swim at. With $50m, you could buy at least a handful.

TURN AUCKLAND'S FERRIES ELECTRIC

The Wellington Electric Boat Building Company is building the country's first fully electric passenger ferry, expected to cost about $4m.

It's hoped the ferry will be in operation by mid-2020.

For $50m, you could buy 12 electric ferries – the number that Fullers wants for all of Auckland's inner-harbour trips.

Maybe that would stop commuters being left behind because of too-full ferries at Hobsonville Point and Waiheke Island.

UPGRADE A MILK POWDER PLANT

Fan of dairy? In August 2019, former prime minister John Key cut the ribbon to a new $50m upgrade at the NIG Nutritionals milk powder plant in south Auckland's Paerata.

If you were the one upgrading the milk powder plant, you could have cut the ribbon. Surely that's the dream.

BIGGEST POWERBALL WINS OF ALL TIME

1. $44m from Auckland's Dairy Flat Food Mart and Liquor in November 2016

2. $33m from Auckland's One Step Ahead in September 2013

3. $30.2m from Taupō's Richmond Superette in September 2017

4. $28.7m from Auckland's Mobil Papakura in October 2010

5. $27m in Thames' Martina Four Square in May 2017