"He couldn't believe that they had won that much money, he wanted to make sure, so Raoul [shop assistant] checked his numbers to see if it matched and called me and we made the claim [to NZ Lotteries]," Mr Kumar said.
The shop was temporarily shut to give the new multi-millionaire some privacy.
"He just had a soft drink, just to calm the nerves," Mr Kumar said. "So we waited till all the people left the shop, he said he didn't want any hoo-ha. His reaction was quite humbling, you know I don't think it had sunk in ... until he called the family to let them know and they exploded. It was unbelievable the sound of cheer, excitement and thrill.
"The reaction it was amazing, sometimes you can't put it into words, it was such a warm feeling.
"I tell you what it's still sinking in for me as well. It's so amazing. That's our job, our job is to sell tickets.
"[The winner is] very much a Kiwi person at heart, a genuine sort of person, very humble. He's always been polite, never had any issues. [He] just always comes in to get stuff.
"The wife, family, kids, the grandkids come in. They're always very polite, the whole family...They're very faithful and loyal to me. He's played Lotto every week for the last 17 years."
Five years ago Mr Kumar put through a claim for a $16 million winner, but didn't sell that ticket.
Mayor Steve Chadwick said it was wonderful news that a local had struck the multimillion-dollar jackpot.
"Good luck to them, no doubt they will get good advice and it would be great if they spend some of it here in Rotorua," Mrs Chadwick said.
"Give a bit, keep a bit and spread the rest with your loved ones - that's what I would do. But it's great news and has everybody talking about it."
A second division Lotto ticket worth more than $22,000 from Saturday's draw was sold at the Lucky Lotto Shop in Rotorua.
- Additional
reporting NZME
