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The winning ticket was sold on Matamata Paper Plus, whose co-owner said he only found out that his store had sold the big ticket when his daughter in Hong Kong sent them a message via WhatsApp. Photo / Google
Matamata Paper Plus owners are eagerly awaiting the winner of the $ 8.25 million lottery ticket sold in their store.
Owners Graeme and Kate Guilford posted on the store’s Facebook page urging the winner to get in touch and offering to open after hours to process paperwork and validate the ticket privately.
The winner’s prize includes $ 8 million from Powerball and another $ 250,000 from Lotto’s premier division.
A spokesperson for Lotto NZ confirmed that a person had come forward on Sunday afternoon claiming to be the winner, but they would not have more details until tomorrow.
Kate Guilford said she only found out that her store had sold the big ticket when her daughter in Hong Kong sent them a message via WhatsApp an hour after the ticket was pulled.
The store is closed today, but Guilford later posted the news on her and the stores’ Facebook pages to inform customers.
“It’s very exciting for them too … We will have a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of champagne for the lucky winner.”
It is the first Powerball ticket and the largest winning ticket the store has ever sold. In the 28 years that the couple have owned the store, they have also sold six winning first division tickets and about 32 winning second division tickets.
“It’s been a long time since we had a big winner,” he said.
“We are looking forward to knowing who he is.”
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Guilford hoped it would be won by someone who truly deserved it. However, he added that they may not be local, as the people from Tauranga and Taupō also bought them on the way home.
Yesterday was a good day for the store, as a customer claimed a ticket in the morning thinking he had made $ 1500, but it turned out to be $ 10,000.
Matamata-Piako Mayor Ash Tanner said these were exciting times for the district, which was on a winning streak. In January, a $ 4.5 million lottery ticket was sold in the neighboring city of Te Aroha.
“We just need Morrinsville now and we will be out,” he said.
“Just a big congratulations to the person who has won it and it would be nice to think they are local because obviously they could be passing through. But nonetheless an incredible victory for someone.
Last night’s winner is the sixth Powerball winner already this year and the victory comes just two weeks after a lucky Christchurch MyLotto player made $ 22.5 million with the Powerball premier division.
