Lotto Powerball: $15m prize not struck as NZ mourns death of former co-host Marise Wipani

Your odds of winning big on Lotto? One in 38 million. Photo / Supplied

Lotto’s hefty $15 million prize has not been struck in tonight’s Powerball draw with the jackpot increasing to $17 million.

But three players from Kerikeri, Palmerston North and Timaru have walked away with newfound riches each winning $333,333 in Lotto First Division.

Lotto said the winning tickets were sold at Woolworths Kerikeri, and on MyLotto to players from Palmerston North and Timaru.

A fourth lucky Strike player also struck it rich after winning $200,000 with Strike Four. That ticket was sold at Four Square Cloverlea in Palmerston North.

The numbers in tonight’s draw were 2, 16, 6, 22, 11, 34 and the bonus ball was 8.

Powerball was 4.

It comes on the same day as New Zealand mourned the death of former co-host Marise Wipani.

Lotto host Sonia Gray tonight paid tribute before the draw to remember the former co-host.

“Before we begin, we’d like to take a moment to remember the wonderful Marise Wipani, a former presenter here on Lotto. Our love and thoughts are with her whānau at this time.”

Wipani, an actor and former Miss Universe New Zealand runner-up, died yesterday on her 61st birthday surrounded by family and friends.

Wipani co-hosted Lotto alongside Doug Harvey as well as appearing in episodes of shows such as Shortland Street, Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

She also featured in classic Kiwi film Came a Hot Friday, her first film role.

The role in the hit comedy came after she was runner-up in the Miss New Zealand pageant to Lorraine Downes, who would go on to win Miss Universe 1983.

Marise Wipani, who came second to Lorraine Downes in the 1983 NZ Miss New Zealand competition. Photo / Steven McNicholl

After years as the country’s “Lotto Lady” and jobs here and abroad in TV, film and theatre, Wipani was in 2011 appearing in various productions while also working in a cafe.

“I wish I was rich and I wish I’d listened when people told me to save my money. But I was like, ‘yeah, yeah, yeah’ and then didn’t do anything ... it’s been fun.”

Powerball wins in 2025

New Zealand has had nine major Powerball wins across the country this year.

In January, a Wellington Lotto player won $7m and a Taranaki player pocketed $8.3m in the same month.

A Hamilton player and a Waihī player each picked up $10.5m from Powerball wins in February.

There were three lucky Powerball multimillionaires in March, with wins in Christchurch, Dunedin and Port Chalmers.

An Auckland couple were in a celebratory mood after winning more than $23m in a draw last month.

Last month a Porirua grandmother won a life-changing $17.2m with Lotto Powerball.

The woman was walking with her grandson when she decided to stop at the Whitby New World to buy her ticket for that night’s draw.

“It was purely because I was out with him that I remembered to get my ticket that day – he’s the reason I stopped and bought it.

“He’s too young to understand, but I’ve told him every day since that I love him 17.2 million times.”

It made her the ninth Powerball multimillionaire this year.