Record Lotto sales in town

The "big one", the $36 million Big Wednesday prize, may not have come Marlborough's way last night, but two Blenheim Lotto store owners reported their busiest day ever yesterday.

The lucky first division winner won $34,453,401 in cash, plus a slew of luxury prizes.

They also won the second divison prize of $696,795.

The ticket was sold at Masterton's Kuripuni Take Note Lotto and Post Shop.

Kiwis splurged $28m on a record 4.7m tickets before last night's draw, eclipsing the 2.9m tickets sold last week.

Renwick Dairy and Lotto staff member Allie Kingi said the store was "run off its feet" yesterday, selling over 2000 tickets.

The store would normally sell tickets in the hundreds, she said.

"It's absolutely brilliant."

Ms Kingi said there were many first-time buyers.

"They would come in and say, `I want one of those Big Wednesday thingees, but I don't know how to play."

BIG WEDNESDAY PRIZES

Division one: $36.19 million, one winner.

Division two: $696,795, one winner.

Division three: $988, 813 winners.

Division four: $19, 40,021 winners.

Division five: bonus ticket, 645,377 winners.

- The Marlborough Express