Nelson news in brief: Lucky strike and MP stands again

Surprise in store

One of the country’s luckiest lotto stores has struck again with a $333,000 winner. On Wednesday a woman joined the prize from Richmond Night ‘n Day with the first division prize, shared with two other South Island players. The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said in a statement on Friday that she regularly played with a $16 Triple Dip. “My mum knew I’d bought my ticket from there and said I’d better check it because someone had won Lotto. I said, ‘well, it won’t be blinking me!’She headed into the store to check her ticket anyway and got the shock of her life. “When they put my ticket through the machine and I heard the music playing, I thought it would be $20. It said, ‘Congratulations, First Division Winner.’ I couldn’t believe it – I had to grab the counter. I was shaking. They had to get me a glass of water and a seat.” “I’m still trying to comprehend the fact that it’s real. I didn’t sleep very well last night and kept waking up to check I still had my prize claim receipt.” She said there were “a couple of things” she would like to spend the winnings on. “I’d like to buy a house and maybe a new car.” Last year Richmond Night ‘n Day was tagged as being New Zealand’s second-luckiest Lotto outlet, for selling 36 first division-winning tickets for Lotto, Powerball, Strike and Big Wednesday, as well as more than 200 second division winners.

MP stands again

Nelson MP Rachel Boyack has been selected as Labour’s candidate to contest the seat again in next year’s general election. Boyack ousted long-time Nelson MP Nick Smith (National) in 2020, winning by 4525 votes. Boyack, who was selected unopposed as the candidate, said she had a strong commitment to the area and was energised and excited to stand for the seat again next year.