Student having bad day wins free flight to Rarotonga

Eden Tahau was "having a bad day" until she won a trip to Rarotonga as part of a marketing stunt from Grabaseat. Photo/Kiri Gillespie

Eden Tahau confesses she was having a bad day up until she dramatically won a flight to Rarotonga.

Miss Tahau, 19, was one of about 100 people who queued for the chance to win international and domestic flight tickets in Tauranga's CBD yesterday.The competition was part of a marketing campaign by Grabaseat, which used a "whirlwind'' machine to create the challenge of people individually snatching at confetti for their golden ticket.

Miss Tahau, a student, came in at the end of a winning streak which saw iTunes vouchers and tickets to Auckland and Christchurch handed out. She won the much sought-after ticket to Rarotonga.

"I was thinking I might get Auckland or Wellington maybe, but I didn't think Rarotonga.

"I'll need to get my passport now."

Miss Tahau said she had never travelled overseas before and was excited.

"I'm going to take my best friend, definitely. We were already talking about going next year but the money was a problem. But not anymore."

Miss Tahau's prize was greeted with a round of applause from the crowd, including Lani Thompson from Mount Maunganui, who said she had also hoped to win the trip to the Cook Islands.

"I have visited there twice before and it's beautiful. It's an absolutely stunning place to visit."

Jordan Hanlen, 24, said she had driven in from Te Puke especially to try and win a trip to Rarotonga.

"A family trip to Raro for Christmas would be awesome," she said.