Northland grandma finally claims Powerball $8.3m prize

All the winning $8.3 million Powerball and Lotto First Division numbers lined up on a Northland grandmother's ticket. Photo/Supplied

Helping her children and grandchildren and a family holiday are top priorities for Northland's $8.3 million Powerball winner.

The Northland grandmother, who wished to remain anonymous, didn't bother to check her ticket until Thursday night, despite hearing a big prize had been won in the region.

She thought it had already been claimed. But her daughter learned the prize was still unclaimed after an article in the Northern Advocate, and said so when she called her mother for a catch-up.

"When she mentioned that my ears pricked up straight away. I thought 'oh I better check mine, there is still hope'," said the winner.

The $8.3m winning ticket sold on MyLotto was drawn on April 4. The prize is made up of $333,33 from Lotto First Division and $8m from Powerball First Division.

Sitting on the couch, the woman logged into her MyLotto account on Thursday evening and the "winning ticket" popped up straight away.

"All of a sudden my numbers were being circled, around and around they went, until all of them lined up in a row."

Unsure what it all meant, the winner yelled out to her husband to come and have a look.

"He didn't believe it either — so much so that he actually went straight to bed."

Both thought her ticket popping up must have been a mistake. She filled out all the paperwork online and went to bed.

It wasn't until yesterday morning when she got a phone call from Lotto NZ that she had the winning feeling.

"When the lady on the other end said she was calling from Lotto that was the moment everything hit me. It was like 'wow, this is not a dream'. It was a huge rush of emotion."

She quickly hung up and called her husband to confirm they were in fact the country's latest multi-millionaires.

Overjoyed with the win, the couple rang their kids to tell them the good news.

"It was very emotional. They know how hard we work, so they couldn't be happier for us.

"Family are important to us, so the main priority is to make the lives of our kids and grandkids a bit more comfortable.

"It's only right to celebrate though, so a family holiday to the islands could be on the cards."

The Northland born-and-bred couple will also support their local schools and businesses.

The most they had won in the past was about $25, so winning a big prize was certainly life-changing, she said.

It's the second largest Powerball prize won in Northland and the first time a player from the region has won big with Powerball online through MyLotto.