$250,000 winner forgot about ticket

Press, 29 July 1989, Page 1

$250,000 winner forgot about ticket

By

RICHARD CRESSWELL

A Christchurch man arrived home from work on Thursday to find out his wife had won the $250,000 Golden Kiwi, drawn early this month. The Golden Kiwi ticket had been a birthday present for the man’s wife from her sister. The Lotteries Commission has been appealing for the winner to claim the prize. The man, who did not want to be identified, said he and his

wife had forgotten about the ticket. The family planned to pay off the mortgage on their South Brighton home, pay some bills and invest the rest, he said. “We’re not going to do anything stupid like blow it all.” His family had “most things” they needed, including two cars. His wife owned a shop and he had run a drainage contracting business before it folded at Christmas. Their three children all work.

The man has been employed by another contractor who “took a bit of convincing,” when told of the win. Since the Lotteries Commission advertised for the winner to come forward there have been several claimants for the ticket, named “Lyn’s Birthday Syn.” The commission’s marketing manager, Mr Phil Prosser, said people had lost interest in Golden Kiwi lotteries, because they took so long to be drawn.

Slower sales meant draws were taking up to three months when they used to take eight weeks. • Golden Kiwi lotteries will end in September and a “Scratch and win” ticket will be introduced with instant prizes of $lO,OOO. The South Brighton family celebrated its win with a party on Thursday evening. The ticket was bought from Paper Plus in New Brighton.