Auckland Grandmother Wins $28m NZ Powerball Jackpot

A grandmother from Auckland won a $28 million NZ Powerball jackpot in the March 26 draw. The lucky winner didn’t know she’d won and had been keeping the winning ticket in her handbag.

The ticket was still there when seeing a newspaper headline. It was about the owner of the store that had sold the winning ticket. At that stage, the actual NZ Powerball jackpot winner had no idea of her success.

“I imagined a little about what I would do if I was the lucky winner – but that was it, I didn't seriously think it was me!" joked the NZ Powerball winner.

Two days after the draw, she was out shopping and decided to check her tickets. One won her a bonus ticket and she thought that was “pretty good.” Then the next one changed her life forever. It was a First Division winning ticket.

That’s you!

Not sure what was happening, assistance was asked for from the lady at the counter. Then the store owner was called over. The NZ Powerball winner recalled what happened next: “They pointed at the sign saying, 'big winner sold here' and whispered to me 'that's you!'

The winner was trying to cope with what she’d just been told. The store manager took her away for some important news and work to do. He told her that her total win was $28,166,167 and there was some paperwork to fill in. “By that stage I was shaking and crying. I was so overwhelmed,” she said.

Tears and laughter

Still emotional, the jackpot winner then contacted her daughter. There were plenty of tears shed by both women. There was laughter too as they both tried to come to terms with the NZ Powerball win.

Plans for the windfall include buying a new house. It’s going to be one that has a swimming pool for her grandchildren to play in. Speaking about her good fortune, the NZ Powerball winner said: “This win means so much to us and will make such a difference to our family – I feel so incredibly lucky."

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