Small town buzz

By MICHAEL FOX

The farmer won it. Or was it the chemist, or the councillor? How about the publican or the policeman?

Nobody knows who has picked up the biggest prize in New Zealand's Lotto history, but the Wairarapa town of Masterton is abuzz with speculation.

According to locals, the anonymity won't last long.

"Masterton's too small … Everybody knows somebody," local woman Nadine Dunbar said.

As the town woke up and went about its business this morning, the win was the main conversation topic.

Sitting in a corner café, Ross Ireland was "pretty sure" he wasn't the winner, despite buying his tickets from the now famous Kuripuni Take Note Lotto and Post Shop.

Ireland said it was common knowledge the win had been claimed, but the laidback townsfolk seemed to be taking it in their stride.

The anonymity won't last, he said.

"I doubt it. It might take a while but it will filter down sooner or later.

"I remember when a lady won a car [in Lotto] and everyone knew within half an hour."

People were also speculating about how the winner might get around the gift tax - and suggested interest free loans might be a good option.

Café Strada's Laura Saba said the win had been on everyone's lips this morning. But café staff had decided early on that no one in their ranks had won it "because we're all still here making coffee," she said.

"We had a laugh before because someone won $5.5 million a couple of weeks ago and it's kind of overshadowed him now – no one cares about that anymore," she said.

Maureen Taute, manager of the store which sold the winning ticket, would not say whether she knew who had won, but said the store had a good group of regular customers.

The recent $5.5 million Powerball winner continued to buy his tickets at the shop.

Mrs Taute is another local who doesn't think the huge windfall will remain a secret.

"You know how people talk in a small town," she said, as people trickled into her shop to check their tickets. Most customers had already heard that the win had been claimed.

Next door to the Kuripuni Take Note Lotto and Post Shop is a barbershop. Owner Ray Allsworth stood in his door way this morning as passing locals repeatedly called out to ask if he had won.

"Everybody asks me that," he said.

Local Tania Kane said she normally bought her tickets from the shop, but had been unable to get out this week because of a sick baby.

She had fielded a few calls from friends and family about the win, but hadn't heard who the lucky winner or winners were.

"I hope it went to someone that needs it and has a family," she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News