Lotto luck continues for Greerton with $5.5m Powerball win

The owner of the Bay of Plenty's luckiest Lotto store has a keen but subtle eye for recognising new millionaires.

Belinda Sands has spent 16 years at Greerton Lotto selling winning tickets to Tauranga punters, including the weekend's $5.5 million Powerball winner.

The single ticket won $500,000 from Lotto Division One plus $5m through Lotto Powerball.

The ticket is yet unclaimed.

Sands said Lotto customers were loyal and it was heartwarming when winners made the effort to share their news with her.

"It's the best job I've ever had. It's been 16 years and I still get a buzz."

The win has reaffirmed the shop's title at Bay of Plenty's luckiest Lotto store, and New Zealand's sixth luckiest.

The Cameron Rd store has sold 26 First Division, Powerball and Strike wins since Lotto began in 1987.

"I was just saying the other day, it would be nice if we could sell a big win before Christmas, and bang, it happened," Sands said.

She felt incredibly happy for the winners.

"I had someone say to me 'don't you get jealous when you've sold a big win?' But it's the opposite. When you've helped someone win that kind of money, it changes their lives.

"Even now I'm getting warm and fuzzy just talking about it.

"When a person wins Lotto, it helps them out hugely but when a person wins Powerball, it helps their whole family."

Sands said the win was fantastic for Greerton and while shopping on Sunday she was stopped by people in the street offering her their congratulations on selling the big win.

Lotto New Zealand general manager Emilia Mazur of corporate communications said Greerton Lotto was "up there with the luckiest stores in the country".

"Tauranga has definitely had its fair share of wins this year – with five Lotto First Division wins, two Strike Four wins and now a Powerball first division win."

Unichem Stortford Lodge Pharmacy in Hastings is New Zealand's luckiest store, selling 45 winning tickets.