Winners Receive NZ$25,000 Each
All 40 jackpot-winning tickets matched the six main numbers - 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 - to win just NZ$25,000 each. The Bonus Ball was 36 and the Powerball was 7, and the individual prize amounts for the jackpot winners was actually lower than the five winning tickets in the second prize tier. They won NZ$27,431 each after matching five main numbers plus the Bonus ball.
The top prize Lotto tickets were sold in various regions across the country, including Waihi, Whangarei, Roxburgh and Milton. Two of the jackpot winners did increase their winnings to NZ$2.5 million each after they won in the additional New Zealand Powerball draw. These two tickets were sold at Countdown Hastings and the New Brighton Lotto and Discounter store in Christchurch.
The owners of all 40 winning tickets have been urged by Lotto New Zealand officials to write their names on the back of their ticket to avoid it being used by someone else. The winners have also been told to come forward and begin the process of claiming their prizes, which they can do so by telephoning Lotto New Zealand directly on 0800 695 6886, by using the official app, or by visiting an authorised ticket retailer.
One Store Sold Four Winning Tickets
Lotto New Zealand confirmed that one ticket holder purchased four of the 40 winning tickets, meaning they will take home NZ$100,000. These were likely to have been purchased from one shop in Hastings, which sold four winning tickets. Becky Gee, the owner of Scott Drive Four Square in Flaxmere, Hastings, revealed it was the first time they had ever sold a jackpot-winning ticket. She explained: "We have five first division winners in Flaxmere, and we have got four of them. Usually one shop gets one but one shop got four, unbelievable.
"Hopefully it’ll go to people who need it, to pay a lot of bills. Most of our customers are local people, so hopefully it will help with lots of families. We have second division winners, we have top prize for Instant Kiwi, but Lotto first division, this is the first time. Usually the people come in on Thursday or on Saturday when they buy their next tickets. Hopefully, [they won't turn up] all at once. I'm so excited!"
Why So Many Winners?
The odds of one ticket winning the Lotto jackpot are 1 in 3.8 million, and it’s not uncommon for the lottery’s top prize to be shared between more than one player. However, the 40 top prize winners are the highest number to share a single jackpot in the lottery’s 30-year history. It likely stems from the fact that the winning line consists of consecutive low, odd numbers, and many players choose their numbers using patterns like this.
Russell Millar, an Associate Professor in Statistics at the University of Auckland, revealed there is a 1 in 2,000 chance that all numbers drawn in Lotto are below 14. Players often pick low numbers that correspond to dates of birth or anniversaries, so there is more chance of prizes being shared if the numbers are low. Millar explained: "The day of the month's got to be no bigger than 31, all these numbers were under 31. The months of the year has to be no bigger than 12, and five of these six numbers are 12 or less."
NZ$7.2 Million Powerball Jackpot Still Unclaimed
A New Zealand Powerball jackpot worth NZ$7.2 million is still unclaimed following the draw on Wednesday 12th September. The winning ticket matched all six main numbers and the Powerball to land the seven-figure windfall, and was purchased from the Pak ‘n Save Silverdale store in Auckland.
Kirsten Robinson, Lotto New Zealand’s Head of Corporate Communications, said: "We are encouraging anyone who bought their ticket from Pak 'n Save Silverdale recently to do a bit of spring clean — clear those wallets, clean out your kitchen drawers and rummage through the glovebox. You never know, that little yellow piece of paper tucked away somewhere special, could be worth $7.2 million."