Big gifts for Lotto punters
Two punters from Wellington and Auckland have had an unforgettable Christmas after winning $500,000 each in the Lotto Division 1. Powerball has rolled over as there were no winners while one lucky punter won $38,299 in Powerball Division 2. There were 17 winners in Lotto Division 2, each pocketing $18,321. The winning Lotto numbers were 15, 17, 19, 25, 29, 38 with Bonus number 7 and Powerball 4. Powerball is worth $6 million and Strike $600,000 tomorrow.
House blaze mystery
The cause of a house fire east of Dargaville a month ago is being classified as undetermined. Fire investigator Gary Beer said it was impossible to determine what caused the blaze as everything was completed destroyed in the fire that started about 9.30pm on November 25. The four-bedroom weatherboard house was situated on Pukehuia Rd, east of Dargaville, about 50m uphill from the gravel road and about 6km from the intersection of State Highway 14. The fire left a family of five with only the clothes they were wearing.
Van crash cuts power
Fifty Awanui homes were left without power when a van crashed into a power pole, downing electricity lines. The crash happened about 2.50am on Sunday at the intersection of SH1 and SH10, Awanui. The driver of the van had left the scene before emergency services arrived. Top Energy spokeswoman Philippa White said 50 homes in Awanui were without power for four hours. The power pole had to be replaced. Police investigations are continuing.
Excellence award for resort
Ramada Resort Reia Taipa Beach head chef Gareth Irwin and his staff are going through the busiest time of the year, with the knowledge that they stand alongside the best in the restaurant business. The resort has won a Beef and Lamb Excellence Award, its second in three years, after an exhaustive process that included twice hosting mystery judges.
"It's good to have on the wall," Mr Irwin said of the decorative plate now proudly displayed. "It shows that we know what we're doing." It actually means rather more than that. Beef and Lamb NZ says the awards acknowledge a consistently high standard of beef and lamb cuisine. Restaurants are not compared with each other in the assessment process, but are judged on their individual merits.
