$9.1m Lotto win to be spent on 'random acts of kindness'

The winning Lotto ticket was sold at Mitchell's Paper Power in Auckland. Photo / File

The winners of Saturday's $9.1 million Powerball prize say they will spend the money helping other people.

The winners, who bought the ticket in Northcote, Auckland, said the money would go towards random acts of kindness for people.

"We've always loved doing random acts of kindness, so that's the first thing we thought of when we realised just how lucky we had become - knowing that we'll be able to use some of our winnings to help change the lives of other people is the most amazing feeling," the winning couple, who want to remain anonymous, said.

"Every single act is going to be a really special moment - we can't wait to help make other people's lives a little easier."

The husband was at home on Saturday when he realised the numbers on the ticket matched the winning numbers.

"I checked and double checked the numbers over and over again - my mind was whirring. In the end I went into the garden to get some fresh air and collect my thoughts - I just stood there staring at the night sky," he said.

As he stood outside gathering his thoughts, his wife was driving home.

"I was listening to the radio as I was driving when I heard that someone had won $9 million with Lotto and I thought, 'gosh - wouldn't that be nice', then totally forgot about it," she said.

It wasn't until she got home and her husband handed her their lucky ticket that she had any idea they were the big winners.

"As soon as he stepped inside he handed me the ticket and said 'please check this for me - I must be doing it wrong'."

But after checking the ticket together several times, it became very clear that they had won the life-changing prize.

The couple said they want the money to last, and to be able to do some good for other people with it.