Backpacker won a $1 million dollar after being in the New Zealand just one day

The man and his two friends each spent $11 on Lotto tickets last weekend in Christchurch while getting groceries at a supermarket.

A Lotteries spokesperson, Karen Jones, says the man was still in shock when he picked up his winnings in Wellington on Tuesday.

She says the backpacker said he felt a little guilty that he had won a prize that New Zealanders normally take part in.

Ms Jones says the man had planned to pick fruit to support his holiday, but has ditched that idea and will travel around New Zealand in a little more style.

New Zealand packages for golfers

FreeSpirit has put together a list of New Zealand's most beautiful and challenging courses. By creating your own itinerary, travelling at your own pace and doing the activities of your choice you can be sure everyone comes away happy.

With FreeSpirit Touring you plan your own travel itinerary from the golf courses to play, the hotels you want to stay in, where you dine and any additional activities. FreeSpirit Touring will do the rest.

Groups of 10 or more have their own private vehicle to take them around.

New Zealand’s first hotel to achieve international Green Globe certification

The Langham Auckland’s managing director and environmental principal for the global Langham brand Mr John Dick said: "Operating in an industry that sells itself on its clean green image, we're delighted to lead the industry with certification.”

"This is just the first step for us and we still have a long way to go. We hope other New Zealand hotels see the pride we take in our commitment to sustainability and implement similar procedures for their own properties," he said.

New Zealand to tighten air travel security

Tighter security around domestic air travel seems inevitable and passengers are likely to pick up the cost, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said on Monday.

She was speaking after Transport Minister Annette King met officials from the Aviation Security Service, the Civil Aviation Authority and police to discuss the implications of Friday's alleged attempt to hijack an Air New Zealand flight.

Air New Zealand recognised as the best in passenger service

Air New Zealand has been judged as having the world's best passenger service in the prestigious Air Transport World magazine awards.

Air Transport World magazine is one of the leading aviation publications globally and has been running its annual awards for more than 30 years. The awards are coveted by airlines with the Passenger Service Award one of the most valued, recognising an airline that has been "innovative and consistently superior in providing outstanding quality passenger service at a fair price".

New Zealand packed with outdoor thrill adventures

New Zealand bills itself as the adventure capital of the world, and there's a lot to back up that claim. They have every wild outdoor activity that you've heard of and some you haven't. They invent new sports or thrill activities all the time. Bungee jumping started here. There are two competing adventure capitals - one on the North Island, Rotorua, and one on the South Island, Queenstown. Both have most of the same thrill adventures, so you don't have to go to both places. However, the best of each type are not all in one location.