Two lucky punters have claimed their share of Saturday’s mammoth $30 million Powerball jackpot, with one intending to pay off her daughter’s mortgage straight away.
A man from the bottom of the North Island, and a woman from the bottom of the South Island are Lotto NZ’s latest multimillionaires.
The winners became the 10th and 11th multi-millionaires this year, taking home $15,083,333 each.
The Invercargill winner said family would benefit from the windfall.
“I called my daughter and said: ‘How would you feel if I told you I was going to pay your mortgage?’
“I always watch the draw on Saturday night and write down the numbers to check my ticket against,” she said.
“When I saw I had all six numbers and the Powerball, my first thought was ‘I really hope someone else has won too,’ – that was before I saw the official results that it was two of us!
“I didn’t sleep at all that night, I had so much going through my mind – it still feels so unbelievable.”
The Plaza SuperValue in Invercargill sold the winning $15 million Lotto Powerball ticket on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Photo / Google
The woman said she went back to the Plaza SuperValue in Invercargill to claim her prize the next day.
She said she is also planning to treat herself to an overseas trip.
The second player to claim the life-changing winnings bought his ticket in Wellington.
“I was checking my emails when I saw one from Lotto NZ – I thought I must have won a small prize,” he said.
“I couldn’t see the top of the ticket on the screen, so it wasn’t until I scrolled up that I saw how much I had won – I was in shock!
“I think I checked my ticket a million times that day just to be sure – and every time felt just as surreal.”
The man said he gathered his family to share his news, and they celebrated with a glass of Champagne.
