A West Auckland man discovered a $20.1 million Lotto ticket he had been using as a bookmark for nearly two months, with the winning ticket purchased at Blockhouse Bay Postshop & Stationers in July and found after a break from reading.
The man, who chose to remain anonymous, bought the ticket for the July 25 draw and slipped it between the pages of a book, forgetting about it until he resumed reading. I put the ticket straight into my wallet ready to check the next time I went to the shop,
he said, adding that he initially thought it was likely a few thousand dollars
when he scanned it at a self-check kiosk. The ticket, part of a $40 million Powerball jackpot split with a young Auckland couple, was worth $20.1 million, including $20 million from Powerball First Division and $111,111 from Lotto First Division.
The Discovery
The winning ticket had been sitting inside a book since July, following its purchase at the Blockhouse Bay Postshop & Stationers. The man only found it when he picked the book back up after a break from reading. I knew they had sold a big one – but you never think it’s going to be you, do you?
he said, admitting he didn’t realize the ticket’s value until the Lotto operator confirmed the win. The operator’s excitement overshadowed his own shock, with the man later noting, He was more excited than me. I think I was in shock.
The ticket’s discovery came after Lotto NZ urged local Powerball players to check their tickets in August following weeks of the prize going unclaimed. Will Hine, Lotto NZ’s head of corporate communications, praised the man’s luck, saying, I can only imagine what it must have felt like to realise that his bookmark was worth $20.1 million.
Hine also highlighted that the man’s ticket was part of the largest Powerball jackpot of the year so far, which was split between two winners.
Lotto’s Response
Lotto NZ has since launched a campaign to locate the owner of another unclaimed prize: a $333,333 ticket sold at Four Square St Heliers for the June 27 draw. Hine urged anyone who might have purchased a ticket in the area to check their belongings, suggesting, maybe have a scan of your bookshelf.
The agency remains active in tracking down winners, with Hine stating, We’re so pleased the lucky winner found his ticket and checked it before we started the next stage of our search.
The man, who has not yet shared the news with anyone beyond close family, plans to take time to decide how to use the money. I’m going to take things slow and really think about what to do with this money.
I do want to go on an overseas trip, but that’s the only plan so far,
he said.
The Unclaimed Prize
While the West Auckland man’s story ended in fortune, Lotto NZ continues to seek the owner of a $333,333 prize from the June 27 draw. Hine reiterated the agency’s appeal, stating, We’d love to get this prize to the rightful owner, so if you might have bought a ticket in St Heliers in Auckland a few months ago, please have a look for it – and maybe have a scan of your bookshelf.
