Lotto winner's prophetic start to weekend

When Geoff Henderson left work for what would turn out to be a life-changing trip up north, he told a workmate at Panasonic NZ that if he won Lotto he would not be back on Monday.

But Mr Henderson, who with his wife Helen, a cook, won the $18 million Powerball ticket bought in Kaeo just over a week ago, is a loyal worker who turned up anyway, with the Lotto win burning a canyon in his pocket.

The couple's identity became public at the weekend after his mother confirmed to a local newspaper that Mr Henderson, 58, had won New Zealand's biggest lotteries draw.

A former worker with ongoing ties to Panasonic told the Herald that she had gone to see Mr Henderson, the credit manager, who was handling his win well.

"He was looking very happy and 10 years younger."

The woman, who did not want to be named, said Mr Henderson had debated whether to get a Hummer vehicle or something else.

"The joke around the office was he didn't know what to get until someone said, 'Why not get them both'. He said, 'I can now', and laughed."

The woman said Mr Henderson, who she understood was a regular Lotto punter, was "a lovely guy".

Another staff member said Mr Henderson was a "fantastic guy" who had stayed low-key about his win.

"He's a real family man and very well respected."

The man was sure the Hendersons would give some of their money to charity but also noted that Mr Henderson liked boating.

"I think that some of the money will go in that direction."

Mr Henderson had resigned from Panasonic but was working out his notice. He has five stepsons and one stepdaughter with his 59-year-old wife.

The blinds were down yesterday in their modest Blockhouse Bay home, valued at close to $500,000, and a neighbour said the couple were "just blown away" with the implications of their win.

Mr Henderson's mother, Moira Henderson, told the Herald on Sunday her son had bought the ticket while spending the weekend at their Tauranga Bay property, where they have a caravan and garage. They had visited her at the Whangaroa Museum where she worked and had stopped for supplies from the local Four Square and bought a Lucky Dip with Powerball.

Mrs Henderson said they learned of their win only after one of their sons rang to ask them if they had got a ticket, which they recovered from their car.