$38m Lotto Powerball: Locals on the lookout for signs of the millionaire in their midst

Thursday, 23 November 2017

Greytown is buzzing about the ticket sold in town which won a half share of the $38 million Powerball on Wednesday night.

Greytown residents are casting sidelong glances at each other, looking for some clue as to who is $19 million richer.

One of two winning tickets in the $38 million Lotto Powerball draw was sold at Fresh Choice in the small South Wairarapa town. The other was sold at New World Warkworth, north of Auckland.

Lotto spokeswoman Emilia Mazur said the Greytown prize remained unclaimed on Thursday morning, and they could not wait for the lucky winner to come forward.

Management of Greytown Freshchoice supermarket said they had no idea who bought the winning ticket, but they were very excited that such a big prize was purchased at their store.

* The staff at Lotto telling someone they've become a millionaire

* This is what a $1m Lotto celebration looks like**

Customer service manager Diane Lucas said news of the winning ticket being sold in Greytown had spread like wildfire and everyone was on tenterhooks waiting to see who it was.

FreshChoice Greytown owner Chris Ward outside the supermarket that sold one of the winning tickets.

'Everyone's pretty happy and buzzing about the news. It's a good feeling around the place,' she said.

Lucas is one of those who are stretching out the excitement. She bought a ticket but refuses to check it so she can hold on to the dream a little bit longer.

'I only play when it gets to the big money like this, but I haven't checked the ticket. This way I can still be on a bit of a high.'

No one knows who the big winners are, but there's lots of well wishers who hope the money is put to good use.

Greytown residents out and about on Thursday were looking out for any unusual behaviour that would give away the winner.

Rusty Donworth, owner of The French Baker, said in a town of 2500 people the secret may not last very long.

'Everybody's excited, as you can imagine in a small town,' he said.

'$19 million would go a long way and I suspect we would find out pretty quickly through the rumour mill, or someone coming out and being a bit flashy and buying five croissants instead of four.'

WARKWORTH: LET THE WINNER BE DESERVING

In Warkworth, no one had turned up to claim their half of the prize yet, Warkworth New World owner Anna Carmichael said.

Carmichael said she had no inkling as to who the winner could be.

'We have sales reps coming down from Whangarei, up from Auckland, we have people travelling through all the time.

John Tohill, with granddaughter Annabelle, said he hadn't checked his ticket purchased from Warkworth New World, but he'd be donating to charity and heading on an overseas trip if he won.

'There's constructions workers, road works happening - so it could be absolutely anyone.'

The prize was the biggest won at the store and Carmichael was thrilled for the winner.

Irene Lawor of Warkworth hopes whoever won the money makes good use of it and has a wonderful life.

'Potentially they are setting up generations of their family, not just themselves.'

The north Auckland supermarket was full of talk of who the winner could be.

Warkworth retiree Nola Cathcart hadn't bought a ticket this week and was surprised to hear the big prize had been won.

She wished the winner the best of luck and hoped they were deserving.

Cathcart 'wouldn't have a clue' on what to spend so much money on, apart from upgrading her car and camper.

Regular Lotto player Denise Barton of Wellsford felt the 'worst' for not buying her usual ticket at the store, and said her farm by the sea would have to wait.

'I thought 'It wouldn't be won on Wednesday' - stupid me.'

Denise Barton was kicking herself after not buying her regular ticket from Warkworth New World.

She had no clue who the winner was, but was curious to know.

'I bet they don't want anyone knowing, and you can't blame them there.'

Jana Schnetler of Warkworth said she

hoped the winner was in need or used it well.

'I'm happy for them as long as they spend it well and don't waste it on stupid stuff like pokie machines.'

The winning numbers from Wednesday's draw were: 5, 8, 12, 18, 28, 36, the bonus ball was 40, and the Powerball was 5. (FILE PHOTO)

Kellie Collis hasn't checked her ticket and would be waiting till she got home before discovering if she could pay off her mortgage and take daughter Charlotte and the rest of her family on holiday.

Schnetler said she would donate two thirds of the winnings to charities like Starship children's hospital and the Westpac rescue helicopter that changed people's lives and then splurge the rest on her family.

Kellie Collis still hadn't checked her ticket.

Knowing someone had won it, she said she would be checking the numbers at home rather at the supermarket.

If a winner, she would pay off the mortgage, take a nice family trip and think about what to do with the rest.

Another four Lotto players from Auckland, Whakatane, Wellington and Invercargill also won, taking home $166,667 in first division.

Those winning tickets were sold at Halfway Store in Whakatane, Te Aro Night n Day in Wellington, Windsor New World in Invercargill and on MyLotto to a player from Auckland.

Strike Four was also won by three players in Palmerston North, Upper Hutt and Greymouth, who each won $66,667. The winning Strike tickets were sold at Countdown Kelvin Grove in Palmerston North, Trentham Mini Mart in Upper Hutt and New World Greymouth in Greymouth.