The Lotto first division Powerball prize jackpotted again last night to a record $32 million - and it must be won on Saturday.
Despite queues at Lotto outlets up and down New Zealand and 2.2m tickets sold, twice the usual number, no-one struck the $25m top prize.
If one winner
takes all next week, it will be the biggest haul for a single Powerball winner.
A pig-hunter from Papakura holds that crown after winning $28.7m last October.
If no one wins the first division Powerball prize, it will go to second division winners.
New Zealand Lotteries spokesperson Katy Atkin said the last must-win draw was in October 18, 2008, with 3.5 million tickets sold three times as many as usual.
With no first division Powerball winners, the prize rolled down to the five second division powerball winners who won $6.1m each.
Lotto shoppers in Takapuna on Auckland's North Shore yesterday were trying to increase their chances in the big draw.
"I play Lotto every week but this week I have done double what I normally do," said Kylie Burke, 38, an Air New Zealand contact centre worker from Glenfield.
Insurance saleswoman Lisa Ricardo, also 38, bought extra tickets with her workmates and mother.
If Ricardo won she would give money to her relatives in the Philippines.
"I would help them and build each a house of their own and give them money to start their own businesses."
Punters looking for a little extra help this week might want to put their faith in the luckiest numbers.
Statistically number 1 is the luckiest Powerball number, and has been drawn 246 times. Next luckiest is 7, then 22, 38 and 21.
There were some winners from last night's draw. A Te Puke player collected $1m for winning Lotto first division. The ticket was sold at Te Puke Four Square.
A ticket bought in Arrowtown, Otago, won $272,735 in Strike.
At the live Lotto draw in Wellington, a Hamilton couple won $200,000 on the Winning Wheel.
- Additional reporting: Joanne Carroll
