One lucky winner from Taupo is $30 million richer after winning Powerball tonight
Jessica Lin thought it was a joke when a friend texted her last night to congratulate her for selling the $30 million winning Lotto ticket.
"It's unbelievable and very exciting," said the Chinese-born Lin, who runs the Richmond Superette where the winning ticket was bought with husband Johnny.
The couple were still at work when the Lotto numbers were drawn. Shortly afterwards Jessica received a text from a local customer and friend to congratulate the couple for selling the winning ticket.
"I thought he was joking," said Lin, who checked the news and Facebook to confirm the text.
Lin said she had no idea who the winner was, saying the store sold more than 300 Lotto tickets on Friday and Saturday, which was more than normal.
I hope a really nice deserving family wins because there are quite a few of those families around here
Since opening at 7am this morning, Lin said more than 30 people had come into the store to congratulate the couple, including one customer who gave her a big hug.
"That was lovely," said Lin, who has owned the Richmond Superette for 14 months.
Josh Plumridge, a chef at the popular Replete Cafe in Taupo, said staff were all talking about the big win this morning.
Plumridge said he bought a Lotto ticket at Richmond Superette "but there was no prize for me".
"It's a pretty good thing for Taupo. I hope a really nice deserving family wins because there are quite a few of those families around here," he said.
Plumridge was also pleased for the Lins and the positive exposure that would come their way.
"I always pop in and get a drink. They are really friendly and welcoming," he said.
Taupo residents have also taken to the Taupo Noticeboard Facebook page to comment on the town's big win.
"Huge congratulations to the lucky person who bought the winning 30million dollar lotto ticket from Richmond Heights enjoy the rest of your life debt free", said Tracy Livingstone.
The numbers from last night's draw are 37, 3, 24, 20, 9, 15 with the bonus ball being 16 and the Powerball 1.
Taupo mayor David Trewavas was excited to hear the winning ticket had been sold in the area.
"That's where I bought mine," he joked.
Trewavas hadn't checked his ticket as of last night because he had been busy watching the All Blacks v Springboks match but promised to get back in touch if it turned out he was the lucky winner.
Three other Lotto players from Whangarei, Auckland and Christchurch also won $250,000 with Lotto First Division.
The Taupo win is the fourth biggest win in Lotto Powerball history. In 2016, one punter won $44m, in 2009 a Wairarapa family syndicate won $36m, while in 2013, a player won $33m.
It is also the fourth big win in as many months.
On July 22, a woman who bought her ticket at Botany New World became $8 million richer when she struck Powerball.
She told the Herald she hid the ticket inside a Monty Python DVD case and slept with it under her pillow before cashing it in first thing the next morning.
The regular Lotto player, who asked to remain anonymous, planned to go to bed early but saw the ticket sitting on her bedside table and checked it on her Lotto NZ app before turning in and discovered she was a major winner.
