A Dunedin nightshift worker who checked the Lotto numbers on Sunday morning, thought he must be suffering sleep deprivation when he saw his six numbers come up.
The young family man, who wishes to remain anonymous, won $500,000 to become Dunedin's second first division Lotto winner in the past few weeks.
Two weeks ago, a syndicate of four Fisher and Paykel workers won $1 million.
The latest winner was finding it difficult to sleep on Sunday when he came off nightshift, so checked the Lotto results.
After making his discovery, he had a hard time trying to sleep before his Sunday night shift as he imagined ways to spend his winnings.
News of his win was shared only with immediate family members.
"I've been playing the same numbers for the last three or four years and won a few small prizes but I never imagined I would win $500,000.
"We have a young family and we're currently renting a house, so hopefully we'll be able to buy our own place now."
Paying off his "sizeable" student loan and taking the family on holiday were also planned.
The man's ticket was bought at Musselburgh Food Centre in Dunedin, the first winning ticket sold there in the two and a-half years it has been a Lotto outlet.
Shop assistant Samuel Jones said the shop expected to be busier than usual this weekend as news got out about the win.
The shop usually sold 600 to 700 tickets a week.
Last weekend's other first division winning ticket was sold in Napier.
