New father wins half million lotto prize

The New World supermarket in Clendon. Photo / Dean Purcell

An Auckland man can't believe his luck after collecting half a million dollars in lottery winnings on the same day his daughter was born.

"My wife put me under a bit of pressure as she gave birth in the morning," said the man who wishes to remain anonymous.

"I hopped on a plane to Wellington at lunchtime, picked up our prize and banked it and was back on the plane in the afternoon, ready to help her with our visitors at the hospital.

"I'm honestly speechless, it's great we have a beautiful baby girl and now financial security for my wife to take time off work."

The couple purchased their Lotto ticket from Clendon New World in Manukau. Their ticket netted them a $519,639 share of first division from the August 28 draw.

"When I checked my tickets and found out I was a big winner I went home straight away and told my wife and she started screaming," he said.

"I thought she might suddenly give birth then and there. The baby ended up arriving early the next day, and I managed to fit in my flight to Wellington to collect our winnings after I knew mum and baby were safe," he said.

He and his wife planned to use their winnings to buy their first home.

"It's really nice to think we can become debt-free and now purchase a home for our growing family, as we have always rented."

- NZPA