The Hastings winner of a $500,000 share of Lotto's first division last Saturday night had no idea he was holding the lucky slice of paper until one of the counter staff at Raureka Lotto and Superette reached out to shake his hand.
"As soon as I stepped into the storethe man at the Lotto counter told me they'd sold a big winner and to make sure I checked my ticket," the man, who asked to remain anonymous, said.
"So I pulled my ticket out of my pocket and handed it to him to check - and the next thing I knew he shook my hand and told me I'd won $500,000!"
He could barely believe it.
"It was an incredible feeling - I was just so excited." He said it did not take him long to decide how he would begin to use the half a million dollars which had now been deposited in his bank account, saying workmates and family were in for something of a treat.
"I love the team I work with, so have decided to gift everyone a bit of money so they can all treat their own families to something special too," he said. "I feel really lucky to have won and want to share a bit of my good fortune around."
On the home front he is looking forward to setting himself and his family up.
"Buying a home in Hastings is at the very top of the list."
It was a winning weekend for Hawke's Bay with the other half of the $1-million prize going to a Napier ticket sold at Countdown.
The Hastings winner was quick to congratulate his Napier equivalent. "It's awesome that both winners came from Hawke's Bay this week - and whoever they are I hope they're as excited about the win as I am."
The Napier winner claimed their prize on Monday and told Lotto they also wished to remain anonymous. They preferred not to talk about their win.
Meanwhile, another lucky local is about to join the Lotto winners' club, with a Napier woman set to spin the Winning Wheel on the live Lotto draw tonight.
As part of the Winning Wheel prize package she will enjoy a weekend of luxury at the Sofitel Hotel in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour, and will be treated to a shopping spree with a stylist before receiving star treatment on the Lotto draw.
Her winning ticket was also sold at Countdown in Napier.
