$33.5m NZ Powerball Winning Ticket Kept in Sock Draw

The winners of a $33.5 million NZ Powerball jackpot have finally come forward. It’s been revealed their June 28 winning ticket had been hidden in a sock draw while they tried to come to terms with their big win.

While the winners have asked to remain anonymous, they have spoken about their NZ Powerball win. They come from Christchurch and are only “occasional Lotto players.”

The female half of the couple spoke about how their big win was discovered. With chores to finish, their NZ Powerball ticket wasn’t checked until late at night.

I couldn’t breathe

“The winning line was right at the bottom, and the numbers just sort of jumped out at me - all of them,” recalled the NZ Powerball winner. Then the shock of winning began to take over and she admitted. “I couldn’t breathe at first - I was almost hyperventilating.”

Her husband was woken up and he checked their ticket. It really had won the jackpot. Not surprisingly, getting back to sleep was a difficult task.

The couple didn’t want to immediately claim their NZ Powerball winnings. Instead, they spent the next week “normal while we thought about our next steps.” The important task was to ensure their ticket remained safe. It was hidden in a sock draw but the next few days proved to be “nerve-wracking.”

Please don’t burn down

There was suddenly the fear that their house might suddenly burn down. Extra checks were made to ensure their iron was turned off when they went out.

Life wasn’t easy as they contemplated what to do with their NZ Powerball win. There were plenty of tears shed and the wife admits their win was “a lot to take in.” The couple will receive help from Lotto NZ on how to cope with their new multi-millionaire status.

Her husband says that they want their windfall to help their family “for generations to come.” They also plan to help local community causes that they care about.  He added: “Winning this is definitely a defining moment of our lives.”

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