[ad_1]
Supplied / Waitaki Tourism
Oamaru has several heritage buildings that have been restored and others that need an upgrade. (File photo)
Speculation abounds in the small town of Oamaru on the east coast of the South Island.
Last week, someone bought a Waitaki New World lottery ticket on the main street in the city of North Otago. On Saturday night, that person became a billionaire after winning $ 18.25 million on Lotto Powerball.
Or maybe that person gave the ticket as a Christmas present?
The victory is the second-highest individual victory this year, after two people earned $ 25 million each in February.
The $ 18.25 million could buy a decent piece of real estate in Oamaru, where the median home price is $ 363,000, well below the national median of $ 749,000 and the Auckland median of $ 1 million. .
READ MORE:
* Five of New Zealand’s quirkiest museums
* New Zealand’s luckiest lottery shops ‘non-stop’ with people and queues ahead of the big $ 38 million draw
* Merry Christmas – Lottery player wins $ 18 million in Boxing Day drawing
That amount of money could also buy the winner a lifetime supply of Whitestone cheese, made in the heart of Oamaru. They could also buy a case or three of the 100 proof 18 year old Oamaruvian whiskey from the Oamaru-based NZ Whiskey Company.
John bisset
Oamaru’s New World supermarket sold the winning lottery ticket for $ 18.25 million.
The winner could choose to dress himself and his family from head to toe in steampunk gear, especially since Oamaru is the steampunk capital of the world, according to The Guardian.
They would also have enough money to make a kettle to participate in the kettle races at the next Steampunk Festival in June.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher advised the winner to take their time and think carefully about what to do with their victory.
“I certainly hope it’s a local. I really wish you all the best on how your life is going from now on. “
But if the winner was struggling to find something to spend the money on, Kircher had some suggestions.
J Blair
Oamaru has been named the Steampunk Capital of the World.
There were always plenty of local projects looking for money, he said, including some of Oamaru’s heritage buildings that needed improvement.
“We have some amazing attractions that can always be helped with more funding.”
Kircher said there was definitely speculation in town about who the winner might be.
He confirmed that he wasn’t the lucky gambler, he didn’t even have a ticket.
“My wife said we should have bought a ticket.”
DOUG FIELD / THINGS
Oamaru is home to a popular Steampunk Festival.
People were talking about what they would do if they made that much money, he said.
“All that speculation gets people excited about what it could be.
“It has certainly been a very lucky day and a pretty good end to 2020 for someone.
“I am very happy for the people who have won. Whatever you do with it, I hope you enjoy it very much. “
Three other Lottery players from Whitianga, Tauranga and Timaru also won $ 250,000 each on Saturday.
