Second big lotto win for Tauranga store

Linda Zeng from AJ's Lotto in Tauranga was stoked her store sold another winning ticket. Photo / Ruth Keber

Chinese New Year has smiled on Tauranga's lucky Lotto shop, AJ's Lotto, with another big multi-million dollar win last night.

AJ's in Devonport Rd sold the winning $7.1 million Power Ball First Division, making it the second massive win for the downtown shop in recent years after it sold the $27 million Big Wednesday jackpot in 2012.

"I am so happy," Linda Zeng of AJ's told the Bay of Plenty Times today.

She said it was a dream come true after wondering if this week's Chinese New Year celebrations ushering in the Year of the Monkey would be a good omen.

Mrs Deng said it was a double happy for AJ's because they sold a BMW-winning ticket in the special Christmas promotion. "It's amazing."

She had her fingers crossed that the winner was a local customer because the long weekend had seen many visitors in the shop buying tickets.

Regular customers buying Lotto tickets while the Bay of Plenty Times was in the shop were all philosophical that they had not bought a ticket in last night's draw.

"Who is the clever girl because I didn't buy one," a departing customer said. However she was not kicking herself, saying "What it is, is what it is."

Mrs Zeng said the win was really good for the shop because it was always followed by more customers buying their Lotto tickets from them.

Lotto area manager Jodi Connolly said no one had come forward yet to claim the big prize which comprised the $100,000 one-tenth share of the $1 million First Division and the $7 million Power Ball.

She said the Power Ball had been jack-potting for just over two weeks and was the third to be struck this year, with $7 million going to Timaru and $6.8 million to Ohakune.

She advised the winner to write their name and address on the ticket and present it to any Lotto shop or bring it to Lotto's head office in Auckland where they would be "well looked after".

Yesterday's nine other First Division winners included a Rotorua punter who had already come forward to claim their prize.