Grandad wins spin on Lotto wheel

A Rotorua grandfather with a big family has won the chance to spin Lotto's Winning Wheel.

The man bought his ticket for last Saturday's draw from Rotorua's Lucky Lottery Shop. He went back to the Tutanekai St store on Monday to confirm it was him who had won the prize.

New Zealand Lotteries Commission spokeswoman Karen Jones said the man has lived in Rotorua all his life and was very excited to have won the prize.

Ms Jones said there was about a six-week waiting list so it was likely the man wouldn't appear on Lotto's live draw to spin the wheel until late February or early March.

Ms Jones said the man, who has only won small prizes before, was a grandfather and had a large family.

"They are looking at all coming down to support him when he spins the wheel."

The Rotorua man will have the chance to spin and win up to $1 million.

Lucky Lotto Shop manager Maree Carraway said the man regularly bought his ticket from their store and was really excited when he came back to the store with his daughter and a grandchild.

"He didn't say much because he was so excited. He was looking forward to spinning the wheel and using whatever he won to help family. He is a very nice man ... It's all about helping the family."

Meanwhile, Tokoroa new mum Sonya-Lee, who won a chance to spin the Winning Wheel after buying a ticket from Rotorua's Selwyn Heights Four Square in November, has nominated her father Steve and brother Leon, also from Tokoroa, to spin the Winning Wheel during this Saturday's Lotto draw.