$7.3m can go a long way in Te Kuiti

After discovering a scrunched-up Lotto ticket in the glovebox of his car was worth $7.3 million, the winner’s first purchase was a bottle of wine from the specials aisle.

The winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, spoke about his win through the Lotteries Commission.

‘‘I knew that someone in Te Kuiti had won the big prize because everyone’s been talking about it,’’ the winner said.

The winning ticket was sold at Paper Plus Te Kuiti for the Lotto draw on Saturday, February 17. This is the largest prize ever won in Te Kuiti.

The winner says the money will be spent in typical fashion, ‘‘a new car, a house, and then a holiday’’.

It begs the question: what does $7.3 million buy in Te Kuiti?

The answer – for a rural King Country town of 4200 people with a median income of $22,600, as per the 2013 census – quite a lot.

First, the house. Harcourts Te Kuiti sales consultant Bruce Spurdle said you would be hard pressed to spend the complete winnings on property.

‘‘The very best of houses would stop at

$500,000 to $600,000, at the most.’’ Harcourts Te Kuiti lists a number of properties, including a 24-acre lifestyle block with a four-bedroom house for

$740,000, and a 10-acre, three-bedroom home for $565,000.

‘‘Around the outskirts of Te Kuiti there could easily be a farm or two . . . quite likely that could attract interest.’’

Spurdle was hopeful for a local winner who might look to invest in the town.

‘‘If the winner was a younger person who wished to branch out and spread his wings a bit, that would be great because it would create employment.’’

There’s no big car dealership Te Kuiti, but 20 minutes up the road in Otorohanga, Prescott Toyota has a top of the line Land Cruiser just waiting for the winner.

Staffer Hayley Picard said, while the

$80,000 Toyota Hilux ute is popular, the real luxury purchase is a V8 Holden Commodore SS or Land Cruiser.

At $130,000, the Commodore is ‘‘the best of the best . . . as soon as they start up everybody turns and looks’’.

But the Land Cruiser, at $140,000, comes with a little fridge.

‘‘The biggest draw card is how much they can tow, they can tow big boats or tow big horse-floats.’’

Accessories are also an option, with some people spending an extra $20,000.

Shopping is thirsty work, so the winner might like to head to one of Te Kuiti’s finer dining establishments, Stoked Eatery.

Chef James Batger said there were $8 pints on offer, or the winner could splurge on their top-shelf The Last Shepherd pinot noir at $10.40 a glass.

For dinner? ‘‘There’s the lamb-shank, slow cooked with char-grilled veges . . . it’s probably the most popular.’’