The winning Powerball Second Division tickets were sold at Western Heights Foodmarket in Rotorua, and on MyLotto to a player from Waikato.
Sixteen players have also won themselves $29,013 with Lotto Second Division, including one who bought their ticket from Paper Plus Taupō.
"If a single player is lucky enough to win Powerball First Division on Saturday night, it will be the second-largest prize ever won in New Zealand," Lotto NZ senior corporate communications manager Kirsten Robinson said.
The largest-ever Powerball win came in November 2016 when a couple from the Hibiscus Coast won $44 million with a ticket bought at Dairy Flat Food Mart and Liquor.
"We're encouraging anyone who wants a ticket for Saturday's $35 million Powerball draw to get their ticket early," Robinson said.
"We know that 5pm to 7.30pm on Saturday will be our busiest time both in-store and online, so we recommend players pick up their ticket ahead of this peak time to make sure they're in with a chance to win."
Some stores are closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, and live Lotto draws cannot take place while Auckland is in alert level 3 because they do not meet the Health Ministry's Covid-19 safety guidelines.
To find out about the draws, claiming prizes and Lotto NZ's response to Covid-19, visit www.MyLotto.co.nz/covid-19