Auckland first home now a reality after Lotto win

An Auckland woman has won $1 million which she plans to use to buy her first home (file)
An Auckland woman has won $1 million which she plans to use to buy her first home (file)

People often joke that winning Lotto is the only way to afford a home in Auckland, but that's exactly what has happened to one woman.

The woman, who wants to remain anonymous, won $1 million in Lotto's First Division draw, which she is going to use to buy her family their first home.

"We've never owned our own home and to have the money to finally do it is like a dream come true for our family. It's such a blessing to know that we'll have a place of our own for the kids to call home," she said.

Auckland's housing market is one of only two places in the country with an average value of more than $1 million.

She says she buys her ticket from Paper Plus in Ponsonby every week and only found out she had the winning ticket after she went to get it checked nearly a month after she bought it.

"I wasn't really paying attention when the shop owner looked at me and said, 'you have won $1 million'. I was totally taken aback," she said.

"It was so exciting, I called my son straight away and he initially thought something was wrong with me as I wasn't making much sense.

"I managed to say 'I won!' and he just replied 'won what?', then I yelled back 'won Lotto!"

Another $1 million prize has still been unclaimed in Auckland after the winning ticket was sold at Paper Plus in Sylvia Park.

Newshub.