50th check the charm for Lotto winner

A Paihia woman won $500,000 with Lotto First Division.

She checked her ticket about 49 times, but despite her initial scepticism, the numbers didn't lie and a Paihia woman is now $500,000 richer.

The woman had a sleepless night last Wednesday after she found out that she had won $500,000 with Lotto First Division.

The woman, who wants to remain anonymous, bought her ticket from Paihia Four Square and found out that she had won big after checking the results online.

"I missed the Lotto draw on TV so I popped online later to check the results. When I saw that I had the winning numbers, I couldn't believe it," she said.

"My initial thought was 'rubbish, this can't be' - well, maybe that isn't exactly right, there might have been a few more expletives than that. I think I checked my ticket about 49 times, I was so excited.

"I just lay in bed thinking about all the possibilities. I don't think I got more than two hours' sleep all night, my heart was in overdrive."

Meanwhile, a ticket sold in Dargaville was among 18 that each won $17,317 with Lotto Second Division on Saturday. The ticket was sold at Countdown Dargaville.

A Ford Ranger won in Northland had yet to be claimed. while a winning $10,000 voucher was sold at Whangarei's Corner Cardz N Magz.