The luckiest man in Levin has claimed a multi-million dollar Powerball prize.
A Levin local was sitting on the $6.5 million ticket from the December 27 draw but finally claimed his prize on Thursday.
The unnamed man could just as easily have given away the winning ticket, too.
"I popped into the store late last year to grab a couple of tickets for family members as gifts," the winner said.
"But once I got back to my car, I thought 'hang on, I should get one for me too'."
So why did it take so long to check?
"I knew the winning ticket had been sold in Levin, but I just didn't think it would be me that won.
"Funnily enough, I kept telling other people to check their tickets but still hadn't checked mine.
"But a friend was giving me a hard time this morning, so I agreed to finally check it."
He didn't expect much when he handed his ticket over at Levin Lucky Lotto, but that quickly changed.
"The guy leaned across the counter and said quietly to me 'do you know what you've won?'
"I was probably in a bit of shock when he told me, to be honest."
He said the winnings will be used to help family and joked that he might work part-time from now on.
NZN
