Margaret Heaney (right) and her daughter Fiona Wilton. Photo / Supplied
Margaret Heaney (right) and her daughter Fiona Wilton. Photo / Supplied
One of the winners of New Zealand's largest lottery prize has died.
Margaret Heaney of Masterton, her two daughters and a granddaughter were part of a syndicate which won a $36.9 million jackpot last year.
The syndicate split one $12 ticket and was named "Irish Luck" in honour of theIrish roots of Mrs Heaney's late husband, John.
Mrs Heaney, who was 74, died "peacefully in her home" on Monday and a service will be held for her in Masterton tomorrow.
Mrs Heaney and her family donated some of their winnings to the Wairarapa District Health Board to spend on a new ambulance.
"Me and John used the ambulance a lot, it's time to put something back into the service," she said in December last year.
The ambulance has been dubbed "the Shamrock" and sports two four-leaf clovers on its rear doors.
Mrs Heaney and daughter Fiona Wilton also bought a complete set of new uniforms for ambulance staff, specifically designed to protect them in difficult circumstances. Their gift also enabled the purchase of state-of-the-art Stryker stretchers, extrication gear and other much-needed equipment.
Just two weeks before the win, Mrs Heaney was turned down for a bank loan for a small car. In a short statement after the win she said: "I look forward to going and seeing my bank manager now."
