The winners of a record Big Wednesday Lotto prize say their win still does not feel real.
Masterton syndicate "Irish Luck", consisting of four family members, won first and second divisions of the draw earning more than $36 million in cash and other prizes.
The ticket was purchased at the Kuripuni Post and Lotto shop in Masterton - the third big prize sold there in the past three weeks.
Winners Fiona and Siobhan gave their first and only news conference on Thursday, saying they have not slept since the win and still cannot believe what has happened.
The sisters, who work as a nurse and bakery worker, respectively, say they will split the winnings with their mother and Siobhan's daughter.
Fiona and Siobhan say they will look to pay off their debts but, beyond that, have not really thought about how to spend their winnings.
Siobhan says the winning numbers were family birthdays and it was the first time the have played those numbers. She says the syndicate is named after their Irish father who died two years ago and loved to have a bet.
The sisters say they have been inundated with calls and text messages from family, friends and other people who have learnt of their good fortune. However, they are anxious about the unwanted attention they will receive as a result of their success.
Lotteries Commission spokesperson Karen Jones says the syndicate will be put in contact with previous big winners to talk about the situation and will be advised to seek financial and legal advice.
She says it generally takes about three months for winners to decide what to do with the money and to come to terms with their win.
Ms Jones believes the Masterton winners are level-headed and will cope with what has happened.
The win was the longest running jackpot in Lotto history to date, with 4.7 million tickets sold for the Big Wednesday draw.
