The $5.5 million Lotto winner was sitting in a Kihikihi pub when the Waikato Times visited looking for clues as to who the winner was.

---

How much would you need to win to retire? Answer the poll. How much of it would you give away to friends and family? Share your thoughts below.

---

The Lottery Commission confirmed a Kihikihi resident had claimed the $5.5m prize in Wellington this morning, after it was revealed the town’s only Lotto shop, Kihikihi Bookstore, sold the winning ticket.

The winner, a man, said he wished to remain anonymous, but he would be helping his family and the local community.

“I just had a funny feeling I might have won and I was too scared to check my ticket for a couple of days,’’ the new millionaire said.

‘‘I was even sitting in the pub having a drink when reporters came in and asked the bar staff if they knew who the winner was, or if anyone had been in shouting drinks.

‘‘Meanwhile, I actually had the ticket in my back pocket, the whole time.’’

The winner said he started shaking when he finally checked his ticket and confirmed his hunch.

‘‘I’ve never seen this much money in my life.’’

He was not sure what his next move was going to be, but thought buying a ‘‘fancy bus’’ for a New Zealand road trip might be on the cards.

Ticket seller Young Yeo, who with his wife Susie owns the Kihikihi Bookstore, said since they had not found out who the winner was through them checking the ticket in his store, he did not expect to find out.

‘‘I think they’ll probably keep it quiet.

‘‘I know Trevor has said he regrets making his win public.’’

Trevor Cooper, a 34-year-old supermarket worker from the North Waikato town of Te Kauwhata went public when he won $26m in one of Lotto's biggest ever prize draws in April this year.

Mr Yeo was delighted to hear the winner was a local, and he was sure the 2000-resident township to the south of Te Awamutu would benefit from some of the win.

‘‘That’s good news, that’s fantastic,’’ Mr Yeo said.

‘‘It will definitely benefit the community.’’

 

 

- © Fairfax NZ News

Comments