Oamaru Lotto Winners Plan To Make A Difference With A Win Of $ 18 Million

With their minds “still spinning,” the Oamaru family, who won $ 18.25 million in the lottery on December 26, plan to make a difference with their winnings.

The family has expressed their wish to remain anonymous and said in a statement Tuesday that they still had a lot to think about, but that they planned to help people in need.

“Our goal is to make a difference in the lives of the people who really need it, and a victory like this allows us to achieve that.

“We also want to help our children and the family in general, and at some point we will probably give ourselves a new car.”

They realized they had won the grand prize on Boxing Day, after hearing that the ticket was bought at New World Waitaki, where they always bought theirs.

“Our minds are still spinning,” said one of the family members.

“I checked it and couldn’t believe we had all the numbers. I must have checked it 10 more times.”

“I yelled out loud, ‘It’s us!” Said another family member.

“I told my kids and they all started crying. We couldn’t believe it.”

The family planned to spend the New Year holidays celebrating their life-changing victory and letting the news sink in.

They normally bought tickets several times a month, but had decided to give themselves two tickets for December 23 and 26.

They had visited the supermarket to confirm their victory, leaving New World Waitaki excited, owner Greg Flannery said.

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said he was happy the award went to a family in the district.

Although there was no shortage of suggestions around town on how to spend the money, he hoped that whoever won the grand prize would simply enjoy the windfall.

He said there were many great community projects in and outside Oamaru if the family was willing to help, but understood that it was a personal choice.

“Eighteen million can do a lot of good.”

People on the streets of Oamaru were delighted to hear that a local family had won the Lottery jackpot.

One woman said she would help put Oamaru on the map.

Another said she would be concerned if everyone found out who had won the award in such a small town, but most were happy that the family could now prepare their children for life, invest or buy a home.

One woman said it was too mind-boggling to think what she would do with $ 18 million if she won it.