Auckland Woman Discovers $500,000 Lotto Win After Surprise Call

A woman from Auckland is celebrating a life-changing moment after discovering she had won a staggering $500,000 in the Lotto First Division. The unexpected windfall came when she received a phone call from Lotto NZ‘s winners’ team, prompting her to search through her handbag for a forgotten bonus ticket.

The woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, was contacted last week regarding an unclaimed prize from the draw held on May 31. She recounted the moment, stating, “I got a call asking if I had bought a ticket around that time and whether I might have any old ones lying around.” Just days prior, she had noticed some tickets in her bag but assumed she had already checked them.

After a quick rummage, she found the tickets, including the bonus ticket from a previous draw. “The person on the phone read out the winning numbers as I checked them on my ticket – I had all six,” she explained. Initially unaware of the significance of her numbers, she was left speechless when informed that matching all six Lotto numbers meant she had won a First Division prize of $500,000.

Once the call ended, she shared the joyous news with her husband. They both checked the ticket using the MyLotto app, which confirmed the major prize. “That’s when he started to believe it was true,” she said, noting her husband tucked the ticket safely into his wallet.

The woman humorously reflected on the ticket’s journey, stating, “It’s been everywhere with me for the past few months, even on an overseas holiday. I can’t believe I was basically carrying around a bag with $500,000 in it. I call this my magic bag now.”

With this newfound wealth, the couple plans to purchase their first home. “This changes everything for us – it means we can buy our first home, and I just don’t have words for how that feels,” she expressed, highlighting the profound impact the win will have on their lives.

Upon claiming her prize, she inquired about how Lotto NZ identified her as the winner. When the ticket remained unclaimed for over a month, Lotto NZ began searching for the owner using electronic transaction records. According to Will Hine, Lotto NZ’s head of corporate communications, “When the woman claimed her bonus ticket, she also bought another ticket using a card, and that card was registered to a MyLotto account, which had a phone number listed. That gave us enough information to reach out and ask some questions – and luckily she still had the ticket.”

Had she lost the ticket, Lotto NZ would have needed to conduct a thorough investigation to confirm ownership, similar to a previous case with another Auckland winner earlier this year. Hine expressed satisfaction in knowing the prize would significantly benefit the couple, stating, “We’re really happy to know that this prize is going to make such a difference in their lives, helping them into their first home.”

This incredible story serves as a reminder of the surprises that can come from everyday life, and the joy that can follow a simple search through one’s belongings.