KEY POINTS:
Five winners shared New Zealand's record $33 million Lotto Powerball jackpot last night - scooping $6,169,014 each.
But they had to wait for their success after a technical glitch stalled the draw for 30 minutes.
No one won the Powerball First Division, but because the prize pool had
reached the maximum $30m, the Powerball cash went to the Second Division winners instead. They needed five of the six numbers drawn and Powerball number 2.
The tickets were spread around the country, with two sold in Auckland, at Manukau Pak'N Save and Onehunga Office Supplies.
Two were sold in Wellington, at Whitcoulls in Cuba Mall and J'Mall Lotto in Johnsonville. The solitary South Island winner was bought at Gold Reef Stationers in Reefton.
The winners won a Powerball prize of $6,146,881 and a $22,133 share of Lotto Second Division.
"We encourage all large prize winners to visit us in Wellington to claim their prize where we can protect their privacy and can also counsel them on the impact of winning such a life-changing sum of money," said New Zealand Lotteries Chief Executive Todd McLeay.
Technical problems left a TV audience of more than a million waiting for 30 minutes when the machine used to draw the balls had a case of big-night nerves. "It obviously didn't realise the sensitivity of the draw," said Lotto spokeswoman Karen Jones.
She said it malfunctioned during the technical rehearsal but a back-up machine was on hand to get the highly anticipated draw on the way.
Both had been "thoroughly tested" and Audit New Zealand staff were on hand to scrutinise the draw.
Manukau Pak'N Save manager Terry Steenson said the store had a lucky touch, with 11 First Division winners bought there.
Steenson said staff were on a high after the news, and were hoping the lucky ticketholder would return to the supermarket to claim the prize.
"But I expect they will more likely quietly head off to Wellington to collect it. It's huge money. It will change their life."
He said the store had been overrun with hopeful Lotto players throughout the week. "I don't think we've ever been that busy."
Jones said more than 3.5m tickets were sold during the week, smashing the previous week's previous record of 2.5m. Fewer than a million tickets are sold in an average week.
One Wellington store reported three buyers spending $2000, $3000 and $4000 each in an effort to improve their chances.
And hopeful punters were yesterday queuing 20 deep at all three Lotto counters at the country's luckiest store, Peter Dunkerley's Radius Pharmacy in Hastings.
Staff member Grace McPherson said regular customers were upping their spend while many people were buying for the first time.
Browns Bay Toyworld - Auckland's luckiest store, with 22 First Division winners - had more than 4000 customers by mid-afternoon yesterday. "I bought my ticket yesterday," laughed owner Francis Opie. "There has been a heck of a lot more people in here today than ever before."
It was the same story at Amigo's Paper Power on Dominion Rd, the site of Auckland's biggest win - a $15.2m bonanza. Owner Cheerag Patel said about 1000 customers had been queuing up since lunchtime and the average person was doubling their spend from $25 to $50.
He already had his and said he would sell his shop if he won.
Many hopefuls said they would give some of the money to their favourite charity.
As well as the Powerball prizes, 10 players each won $303,282 with Lotto First Division. There were more than 140,000 winners overall this week.
The previous largest Powerball jackpot was $19.3 million in September 2003.
- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: RHIANNON HORRELL
