An Auckland man has claimed the $30.2 million Lotto prize after finally checking his ticket which he had stashed in the top of his wardrobe for weeks following the draw.
Lotto NZ said the man brought some of his children with him to Lotto HQ as he claimed the seventh-equal largest prize in Lotto history yesterday.
“I still can’t believe this is actually real,” said one of the man’s daughters. “It feels like someone’s going to pop their head in at any moment and tell us it’s all a big joke.”
The man is a regular player who picked up his usual ticket at the Albany Central Superette three weeks ago for the October 23 draw.
“I drive past other stores to go there and buy my tickets — they are lovely people and we’ve built up a nice relationship, so I wanted to support them,” he said.
Not usually one for checking his tickets regularly, after buying the ticket the man stashed it in the top of his wardrobe.
As time went on and the jackpot remained unclaimed, he said he had an inkling it could be him.
“After a week, I heard the prize still wasn’t claimed so I started to think it could be me, and then when it still hadn’t been claimed after another week, I was maybe 70% sure I had the winning ticket.
“I pulled out my phone and checked it. It flashed up ‘major prize winner’.”
He said the woman in the store burst into tears upon checking his ticket.
“She was so happy for me.”
The winner said he was “so happy” that his kids and grandkids would be comfortable.
“All I could have asked for is that they are looked after, and now I know they will be.”
Once his family are sorted, the man has a few toys on his wish list.
“I need a new car, I’d also like to get a motorbike and a ride-on lawnmower … oh and maybe even a boat in the future.”