Searching for the $12.5m Lotto winner
New Plymouth’s streets were abuzz after a multi-million dollar winning Powerball ticket was sold in the city.
The winning ticket from Saturday night’s draw is valued at $12.5 million, with $12 million from Powerball first division and $500,000 from Lotto first division, and was sold at Fitzroy
Lotto and
Mags.
While the shop was closed yesterday, news of the win was plastered across the front window.
Liquorland Fitzroy duty manager Lizzy Wilson said they hadn’t had any customers with an extraordinary large order on Sunday but would be happy to cater any celebration party. They have bottles of 2009 Dom Perignon champagne costing $273 - cheap for a new millionaire. Wilson believed the winner would be lying low. ‘‘I don’t think that they would tell us. I wouldn’t tell anyone. Hopefully it is somebody local, from around here.’’
Employee Aleisha Sadler was considering buying a ticket for the next draw. ‘‘I have never bought a Lotto ticket, I guess I should. It would be nice.’’
Louzette Wheeler, shop assistant at nearby Piccolo Morso, said customers had been talking about the windfall.
‘‘We would love to know who it is because we wish it was us,’’ Wheeler joked with other staff members Bella Rothwell and Max
Smith. She said there hadn’t been any large catering orders placed on Sunday morning but everyone was wondering who the lucky winner was and if they were local.
‘‘We’ve talked about it because most of us are from around this area,’’ Wheeler said.
Customer Christine McLeod was delighted for the lucky winner and hoped it was a local. ‘‘That’s so exciting,’’ she said. ‘‘Absolutely I hope it is.’’
Euro Deli Bakery manager Annie Chan said lots of her customers had also been talking about the big win.
While Chan had bought her ticket at the shop she wasn’t the winner but said she would definitely be trying again next week.
Alex Sutton also purchased his ticket from the lucky store and although he had come up empty handed he hoped the winnings would stay in the area.
TAB employee Marie Pirikahu said customers were curious about the lucky winner’s identity.
‘‘If I see an extra smiley face around I will know who it is. I wonder if they even know yet?’’
Jane Moodie, co-owner of Sporty’s Cafe and Bar, reckoned the winner would be the first person through the doors of the Lotto shop on Monday.
Another Lotto player who bought their ticket at Paper Plus Whakatane would also be celebrating after scooping $500,000 in Lotto first division. Meanwhile, Strike Four rolled over and would be worth $500,000 on Wednesday.
Lotto advises anyone who bought their ticket from either of the winning stores to write their name on the back of it and check it immediately at any Lotto outlet, online at mylotto.co.nz or through the Lotto NZ ticketchecker app.