The woman in the shop quietly passed him a "little yellow slip of paper" and then a Hastings man's life changed forever.
The man, who asked to remain anonymous, purchased a winning Lotto First Division Ticket from Four Square Mahora in Hastings, splitting the $1 million prize with another ticket purchaser from Auckland.
He checked the ticket while on his way home from work.
"When the winning noise went off I thought I might have won a Bonus Ticket, but then the lady at the counter slowly and quietly passed me a little yellow slip of paper that had $500,000 printed on it."
He was so "blown away" he nearly cried.