Shopping spree for Big Summer Splash winner

Seven lucky locals have won prizes after enjoying Lower Hutt’s local swimming pools this summer, including the major prize of a gift card worth almost $1000.

During the Big Summer Splash, which happens every summer, pool goers collected stamps on a card with each visit. Once they’d collected five stamps their next swim was free and they were in the draw for prizes.

This year 1633 cards were completed and the winners randomly drawn by the New Zealand Police. Six prize packs were given away, one for each pool, along with the major prize.

The winner of the major prize of a Westfield gift card worth $995 is Melina Murray, who couldn’t believe her luck at first.

“When they told me I thought it must have been a prank, I still had trouble believing it was real until it was in my hand,” she said.

A mother of two, Melina hasn’t yet decided how she plans to spend her prize.

“All my money goes on my daughters, so maybe I could use some on a nice pair of shoes as a treat. Maybe I can stretch it all the way out till Christmas.”

A Spank prize pack of goggles, towel, swim cap, swim bag and family swim passes was given away at each pool too and the lucky winners were:

• Savannah Trass: Huia Pool
• Milla Coe: Wainuomata Pool
• Daniel Singh: Naenae Pool
• Jen Morrison: Eastbourne Summer Pool
• Bridget Nixon: McKenzie Baths
• Jordyn Ashton: Stokes Valley Pool

The major prize was originally a ‘hoverboard’ electric scooter, but due to concerns over the safety of those products internationally it was decided to replace it with a gift card of the same value.