Lotto: Young Auckland family thought they'd won $25,000 - they'd won $25m

Wednesday, 4 March 2020

The second winner from Saturday's $50 million Lotto draw has come forward.

A young family were in disbelief when they thought they'd won $25,000 in Lotto, before realising they'd netted $25 million in Saturday's draw.

The Auckland family are the second winners to claim their half of Lotto's record-breaking $50m draw.

Lotto plays with the fantasy of winning the jackpot in a very whimsical way, while upturning stereotypes of sole parenting, family and concepts of wealth.

A mother from the Hawke's Bay was revealed as the first winner on Tuesday.

The Auckland winner, who bought her ticket on the My Lotto app, said she knew she 'had to grab a ticket' after seeing the $50 million had to be won.

* What the two Lotto winners could buy in Auckland with their $25 million

* It's not unusual for Lotto winners to take a while to come forward**

'We play every now and then, usually when the jackpot is high.'

She had not seen that a My Lotto player from Auckland had won, as she had been busy with family following the draw, but checked her ticket after receiving an email from Lotto NZ customer support saying she had won a prize.

'I watched as the numbers were circled on my ticket one by one. Then some quite large numbers popped up across the top.

'I must have shouted pretty loud when I saw them as my Dad came running in.'

After hearing 'a loud shriek', the winner's dad went to see what was going on, and learned his daughter was a millionaire. But not after a brief mix-up on how much she'd actually won.

'I got to the lounge and just heard 'Dad, I think I've won $25,000.' When I peered at the ticket, I saw there few more numbers than that,' he said.

The winner's mum initially thought something terrible had happened after she found her daughter in tears, but eventually the winner managed to communicate that she had become a millionaire.

The family celebrated with pizza.

With the prize money safely in her bank account, the winner said it would benefit the family's future generations.

'I was brought up with good morals and values and it's important to us that our children are raised the same way.

'Although this money is an amazing opportunity and can change our lives massively, I still want our children to understand the value of a dollar.'

She would use the money to pay off their mortgage and 'a few other bits and pieces', but had not yet thought much further.

'There'll be some nice little treats along the way I'm sure.'

The $50 million is the largest Powerball jackpot in history.

Previously, $44 million was the record. That prize was won by a young couple on the Hibiscus Coast in 2016.

The record prize was put up for grabs after $42m rolled over on Wednesday night, as no one had a winning ticket.

Lotto handed out numerous other prizes on Saturday night besides the record jackpot.

Seven other people won a $111,111 share of Lotto First Division, having bought winning tickets in Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Levin, Tapanui and Balclutha.

In Saturday's Strike Must Be Won Draw, the $1 million jackpot was shared by three players, each taking home $333,333.

Their winning Strike tickets were sold at Blagdon Four Square in New Plymouth, Milton Night n Day in Milton and on MyLotto to a player from Auckland.

In Lotto's second division, 39 people each won $26,117.

Eight lucky players also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $35,771.