$1m winning Lotto ticket finally claimed

The $1m winning Lotto ticket sold in Tauranga has finally been claimed. Photo/file

Tauranga's newest millionaire is taking it easy for a few days, after his Lotto ticket struck the $1 million Lotto First Division prize on Saturday.

The winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, has a change in routine to thank for his incredible win.

The winner usually buys his Lotto tickets in Papamoa where he lives. However, last Friday he happened to be walking past AJ's Lotto in downtown Tauranga and, on a whim, decided to pop in and grab his ticket there.

Sure enough, I was the winner. Well - that night I pretty much walked around in circles and was too excited to sleep.

Lotto winner

That whim paid off - but it took the winner a few days to discover that he was newly minted.

"On Sunday after the draw, I heard that the $1 million winning ticket was purchased at AJ's Lotto and immediately I just had this gut feeling," the winner said.

"But for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to check my ticket. Finally, on Wednesday I plucked up the courage to check the numbers online.

"Sure enough, I was the winner. Well - that night I pretty much walked around in circles and was too excited to sleep.

"A bit of me was terrified, but mainly it felt good, pretty good," he said, laughing.

The winner claimed his $1 million prize this week and is now deciding what to do with his newfound fortune.

"It still hasn't really sunk in, but it's now a case of what to do. I think I'm going to let the dust settle and not make any decisions too soon," said the winner.

"It's all hunky-dory though. I'll never need to work again!" he jokes.

AJs Lotto in Devonport Road, Tauranga has sold its fair share of winning tickets over the years, with 12 First Division prizes sold at the store, including a $27 million Big Wednesday prize in 2012.

AJ's Lotto also sold a ticket that won a $70,000 prize with Lotto Second Division only a week before this million-dollar win.