Whakatāne's Halfway Store couldn't believe they sold the $12m winning lotto ticket

The winning Lotto ticket was sold at Halfway Store in Whakatāne. Photo / Google Maps

Owners of a Whakatāne store are in disbelief after selling the lucky $12 million Lotto Powerball ticket.

Halfway Store co-owner, Sophie Sang, said she woke to a call from her husband this morning to tell her the news.

"What did you say?" she recalled saying to him. She checked online and saw that it was true.

The ticket won $12.25 million with Powerball first division in last night's draw.

The prize is made up of $12m from Powerball First Division and $250,000 from Lotto First Division.

Sang said it was "amazing" and "unbelievable" as this was the family store's biggest ticket win and even got their children excited.

Sang said the news was also great for the city which hadn't had a big Powerball win in a long time. Her morning had been spent excitedly waiting for the winner to walk through the doors and scan their ticket.

Although many people have checked their tickets, the winner was yet to claim their title.

She said she wasn't sure how, but they would celebrate the exciting news tonight.

Meanwhile, a My Lotto ticket sold in Rotorua won Lotto Second Division last night worth $12,933.

Powerball wins in 2022
29 January - $21 million - MyLotto - Auckland
12 February - $8.5 million - MyLotto - Wellington
26 March - $28.1 million - Meg Star - Auckland
9 April - $8.5 million - MyLotto -Auckland
30 April - $13 million - MyLotto - Auckland
7 May - $5.3 million - Countdown Vogeltown - New Plymouth
21 May - $9 million- Four Square Matangi- Hamilton
1 June - $6.3 million- Countdown Hobsonville- Auckland
22 June - $12.25 million - Halfway Store - Whakatane