Alexandra's newest Lotto millionaire has claimed his prize but is keeping a low profile.
The winner of the $1million first division prize was given the ticket in the Father's Day draw as a present from his family, a statement from Lotto New Zealand said yesterday. The winner wanted to remain anonymous.
''The kids made a card and wrote their Dad little messages, and we popped a Lotto ticket inside,'' the mother of the family said.
A few days later, she checked the card.
''When the screen flashed 'First Division Winner', I didn't know what to think, but my heart started racing - I was so stunned that I didn't think I'd be able to drive home, '' she said.
The family planned to give some money to extended family, put some away for their children and donate some to KidsCan, the Lotto statement said.
The ticket was the first top division Lotto prize sold by Alexandra New World.
Store manager Shane Ryan was ''stoked'' the big prize went to someone living in the town.
Mr Ryan also received a Father's Day Lotto ticket from his family.
''My whole family walked over the street to check my ticket, but it wasn't me.''
The winner had kept a low profile - ''we don't really know anything about him'' -but it was ''pretty cool'' to learn the ticket was owned by a Central Otago person and not a visitor to the area, Mr Ryan said.
