Masterton plays host to Lady Luck | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Masterton is the luckiest town of its size in New Zealand _ accruing $80.4 million in prizes since Lotto began.
The golden trough was topped up last week by a $500,000 win by a Wairarapa-Wellington family, who are keeping a low profile.
While nearly half of Masterton's winnings can be attributed to last year's $36.9 million Big Wednesday win by a Masterton family, we've still won $44.6 million more first division prizes (Strike, Powerball and Big Wednesday) than the next district of similar population size.
Lotto NZ spokeswoman Victoria Barton-Chapple said statistically it was luck but since Lotto tended to be favoured with over-30-year-olds, Masterton's older population could give it an edge.
''The good people of Masterton are on a lucky streak and long may it continue,'' she said.
Lotto NZ figures show Masterton has had 27 first-division winners since Lotto began in 1987 _ topped only by Waitaki, which has 35 winners but a quarter of Masterton's first-division prize money.
Masterton's luck may have rubbed off on Wairarapa's other towns. South Wairarapa has recorded 17 first-division Lotto winners and Carterton had one in 2007.
Including all money in lower divisions, South Wairarapa has accrued $14 million while Carterton has racked up $3.5 million.
However, Mary Freeman, of Wairarapa Addiction Services, said people needed to be aware their chances were less than one in a million of winning.
''I think buying a Lotto ticket is fine. ''Every now and then is fine but not if your kids have to go without bread and milk because you spent $20 on a Lotto ticket.''