A recent flurry of lottery wins across New Zealand has left lucky players celebrating life-changing amounts. In the latest draws leading up to March 22, 2025, two players secured significant wins through MyLotto online. They each won $333,333 in the Lotto First Division, marking yet another exciting chapter in Kiwi lottery history.
On Saturday night, March 15, 2025, the Powerball jackpot increased to a whopping $10 million, with an additional $1 million from the Lotto First Division. Two fortunate winners, thanks to this draw, each took home $5.5 million. This latest jackpot comes shortly after another Powerball player won $10.5 million in a recent Big Wednesday Lotto draw. The winning ticket for that draw was purchased at Paper Plus Waihī & Toyworld in Waihi, where the lucky punter secured a prize that included $10 million from Powerball First Division and $500,000 from Lotto First Division.
Remarkably, this winner is the fourth Powerball multi-millionaire this year alone. Just two weeks before this draw, a Hamilton woman received a staggering $10.5 million, having learned of her good fortune after rummaging through her handbag and discovering an unchecked ticket. “I hadn’t heard Powerball had been won. I was looking for something in my bag when the tickets fell out,” she shared. “I thought I’d better remember to check them when I went down to the shop.”
Upon turning in her tickets, her life changed forever as she announced in utter disbelief, “I just said, ‘Oh my God, oh my God, you’re kidding me?’” The sheer shock resonated in her voice when she recounted the moment she found out: “I had to sit down – I was shaking like a leaf.” Even now, she struggles to process her newfound wealth, mentioning, “There’s no words – it’s just so unbelievable. I’m walking around with a great big grin on my face.”
In terms of other recent victories, a Lotto player from Whangārei also felt lucky as they claimed $500,000 from the Lotto First Division in the same draw. Winners are urged to check their tickets against the results available on MyLotto, which also includes their wins via the MyLotto app.
Earlier this year, a Wellington couple celebrated receiving $7 million in what was the first Powerball jackpot of 2025. Shortly thereafter, a Taranaki couple, who have been playing the same Lotto numbers for nearly 20 years, reaped an $8.3 million prize. These wins showcase just how suddenly fortunes can change for ordinary Kiwis.
In a particularly entertaining twist, one New Plymouth Lotto player found out about her life-changing success while watching reality television. As she settled down with her mother to view Married at First Sight, she decided to check her ticket online using the MyLotto app. “There was only 15 minutes to go, and I had to reset my password – it was a bit of a rush,” she explained.
Happiness quickly turned to shock as she realized all her numbers matched. “I couldn’t believe it! Because it was a Must Be Won, I was sure I’d be sharing it with others and initially thought it was $150,000,” she recounted. “But after reading the number a few more times, I realised it was $1.5 million!” Joy overtook her as she called out to her family, “At this point, I was seated on the ground, I couldn’t speak, I felt sick.”
Post-claim, this family felt overjoyed and echoed their dreams of becoming mortgage-free as the first step towards building a secure financial future. “We will pay off our mortgage first – being mortgage-free is a dream come true,” they expressed joyfully.
Ticket holders are reminded that if they purchased through MyLotto, the prize amounts of $1,000 or less are automatically credited, while larger wins require a completed online prize form. Live results can be seen immediately after the draws on TVNZ 1 every Wednesday and Saturday night, and they can also be searched on the MyLotto app or found at Lotto NZ retailers.
As lotteries continue to garner attention and excitement in New Zealand, questions still float about what winners will do with their newfound wealth. One thing is for sure, the faith in luck remains strong, and thrill-seekers across the nation will continue to roll the dice in hopes of striking it rich.
