Lotto: Lucky foreigner wins $1m

Photo / File / Ross Setford

A lucky foreigner has banked $1 million while visiting New Zealand this summer.

The man, who is believed to be from Australia, is the winner of Lotto's First Division $1 million prize this weekend.

He purchased his ticket from Motorway Dairy & Lotto in Otahuhu, and checked out his winning numbers this morning.

Dairy co-owner Rakesh Patel said the man's cousin had come in about 10am with the ticket.

The winner followed about 10 minutes later after his cousin confirmed it had scooped the winning prize, he said.

"I've never seen anyone [who won] like that. He was very cool.''

"He knew that he had that much money, but he seemed to be holding it [excitement] inside.''

Mr Patel believed the man was Australian. He said he had been in New Zealand for about three months, staying with his cousin, and was heading home soon.

He described him as "very gentle'', even offering to buy a gift for the shop owner when he found out he won, Mr Patel said.

The man had not finished processing his winning ticket today, and Mr Patel expected him to return tomorrow with his details.

His win was the first time a ticket purchased at the dairy had taken out a First Division prize since Mr Patel and his brother bought the dairy nearly two years ago.

Meanwhile, Powerball has jackpotted to $16 million this week, with the prize not being struck last night.