Golden Kiwi prize too small for today’s dream?

Press, 15 October 1986, Page 3

Golden Kiwi prize too small for today’s dream?

PA Wellington The price and prizes in the $2 Golden Kiwi lottery should be reviewed as a result of a recent fall-off in ticket sales, said the lottery organiser, Mr Warwick Kiddle, yesterday.

Mr Kiddle said the Golden Kiwi million dollar lottery at $25 a ticket and the Melbourne Cup sweepstake now on sale at $6 had dulled the popularity of the $2 lottery.

The $5 and $6 lotteries were also popular and

their $200,000 prizes were big enough for people to buy their dream home, car, or boat. “People are attracted to that higher first prize in the $5 lottery, with a relatively modest shift in price,” he said. “It is clear that the $2 lottery is a filler that has not a large enough first prize to hold its place against the bigger lotteries.” Mr Kiddle said he would make submissions to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Tapsell,

“to see if he is in accord with these views, since these matters are subject to his consideration and full approval.” The $2 lottery price increased from 50c to $1 in 1976 and went up to $2 in 1981. “So we are round the five-year cycle time and the pressure for change is building up,” Mr Kiddle said. “While everything else goes up in price, the cost of the dream has increased, and we need to match that.”