$36.9m lottery winner dies

One of the winners of the biggest ever New Zealand lottery prize, who turned her good fortune into help for the needy, has died.
Margaret Heaney (nee Donaldson) was 74.
Mrs Heaney died at her Masterton home on Monday after making headlines around the world last year when she won $36.9 million as founder of the Irish Luck syndicate beside her two daughters, Fiona Wilton and Siobhan Logan, and grand-daughter, Alicia.
It is understood Mrs Heaney, a great grandmother, had been battling illness since before the historic win and was on several occasions admitted to hospital in that time, once with pneumonia barely two months before striking the Big Wednesday prize.
The Masterton syndicate was called Irish Luck after her late husband, John, who came from County Longford in Ireland and died four years ago.
Family members drank pints of Guinness to John at Molly Malones bar in Wellington to celebrate the record win during their trip to the capital to claim the prize.
Mrs Heaney, who grew up in Masterton and as a young woman served in the Royal New Zealand Navy, launched the syndicate because she could not afford to buy lottery tickets from her pension after the death of her husband.
Mrs Heaney described the syndicate win last year as "amazing" and while promising to buy herself a second-hand car, for which her bank had declined a loan only weeks earlier, had also pledged to put the money to use in the community.
In December 2009 Mrs Heaney and her daughter Fiona, an ambulance officer, proved true to their word when they donated to the Wairarapa District Health Board a new ambulance dubbed 'The Shamrock' - complete with four-leaf clovers at the rear doors - while crew got new uniforms and equipment.
Mrs Heaney and the syndicate also helped sick friends and family and she was instrumental in establishing a syndicate trust to benefit the Cancer Society of New Zealand, Starship hospital, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, and Ronald McDonald House.
DHB chairman Bob Francis said yesterday Mrs Heaney had through her selfless generosity made a significant and lasting contribution to Masterton.
"What she gave was absolutely incredible - fantastic - and we're all very grateful.
"To have made such a big difference in such a short time was magnificent."
Mrs Heaney earlier this year won more than 40 per cent of reader votes on the website for Act Party MP Heather Roy, naming her the Royters New Zealander of the Year.
A service for Mrs Heaney will be held at 1.30pm on Friday at Rosewood funeral home in Masterton followed by private cremation.
Messages may be left on Mrs Heaney's tribute page at tributes.co.nz.