$14m Big Wednesday win seals town's lucky status

Photo / NZPA

Dannevirke's reputation as one of New Zealand's luckiest Lotto towns has been cemented by a $14.1 million Big Wednesday win.

The ticket, sold at the Blockbuster video store in High St, was worth more than $13.3 million cash and also came with a Lamborghini Gallardo, Audi Q7, Rayglass 2200 boat and Visa Platinum card loaded with $50,000.

"I'm just hoping it's a deserving local who has won, but with a lot of passing traffic, there's the possibility it could be an out-of-towner," Blockbuster manager Ann Shore said.

Selling the winning ticket was a great boost for staff, she added.

"It'll be even more exciting if the winner comes in to claim their prize. The terminal locks down and we have to call in another staff member. I'd imagine they'd go to Wellington to collect a prize like this. But we're on edge anyway."

Bill Ingram was among those fervently hoping the winner was local.

"That $14 million makes the $20 in my wallet now look pretty sick. My hands are shaking already, just trying to find my ticket," he said.

"Jammy devils, but good on them whoever it is," was the verdict of another resident at the town's Anzac Day dawn parade.

Unfortunately for him, David Harris had already ruled himself out as the town's latest multimillionaire.

"My wife Pat told me about the prize coming to Dannevirke and I was quick to check my tickets. I would have loved to have had that ticket, but I had only two numbers, unfortunately.

"But I like to hear good news like this for Dannevirke. It's great."

In April 2011 a Dannevirke resident won $17 million - half of a winning Powerball haul of $35 million.

That, combined with two Saturday night Winning Wheel spins, saw Dannevirke crowned the year's luckiest town.