Excitement is brewing in the Bay of Plenty’s Kawerau about the identity of the mystery Lotto winner with fireworks going off minutes after the draw.
The record-breaking $55 million draw was won by three players, each taking home $18.3m.
One of the lucky tickets was sold at New World Kawerau, and its owner, Clare Gallagher, said the town’s people are “really excited about some great news for Kawerau“.
The town, 100km southeast of Tauranga, has made headlines in the past for the wrong reasons, but the talk of the town at the moment is who the lucky winner is, as fireworks were set off soon after the draw, Gallagher told Herald NOW’s Ryan Bridge.
“There was a lot of chatter for sure. There was a number of fireworks displays that apparently went off quite quickly after the draw, and some speculation around, ‘Did those people win? Was it them?’”.
Customers have been coming into the supermarket and making comments such as “we’d know if it’s one of your team, they won’t turn up tomorrow” and “if we don’t see you back, we know it was you”, said Gallagher.
It felt like half the town lined up to get a ticket on Saturday before the draw, she said.
“Thursday was just as busy. Some people trying to get in before the madness of Saturday and the terminal ran right up until cut off, which was pretty cool.”
The kiosk has only been open since July, she told Bridge.
“So, we’re all very, very excited.”
Gallagher said staff are hoping to find their town’s newest millionaire today as people come in to check their tickets.
“Of course, we’ll treat them with the utmost of respect and, be very discreet about things too.”
The other two winning tickets were sold at Pak’nSave Moorhouse in Christchurch, and through the MyLotto app to an Auckland punter.
Fifteen other Lotto players also scooped substantial prizes, taking home $55,556 each from Lotto First Division.
Sixty-two other punters also won $16,909 in Lotto Second Division.
Lotto NZ chief executive Jason Delamore described it as a “fantastic result” for the winners.
“It’s great to see the Powerball jackpot being shared among a number of players,” he said.
“A win like this doesn’t just change one life – it can transform families, friends, and even entire communities. Our winners often give back in incredible ways, from helping loved ones to supporting charities."
Ticket holders can see immediately if they have won if they purchased a ticket through MyLotto. Prizes of $1000 or less are automatically credited to the account.
For prizes exceeding $1000, winners must complete an online prize claim form.
Winners with a physical ticket must still visit a Lotto retailer to claim their prize.
For the Powerball jackpot to be claimed, a ticket holder must get all six Lotto numbers correct as well as the added Powerball number.
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