Power outage at TVNZ forces $5m Powerball Lotto draw offline

“Fortunately, we have established and secure processes that allow us to run the draw off-air using a Random Number Generator under the scrutiny of the Audit Office, in circumstances like this.

“This was done during the pandemic and also in 2019 when a fire at the SkyCity Convention Centre disrupted filming,” Hine said.

A life-changing $5 million is up for grabs in tonight’s Lotto Powerball draw, and another $1m is on the line in Lotto First Division.

This draw comes after a lucky player from Tauranga won $200,000 with Strike Four on Wednesday night.

The winning ticket was sold at Cherrywood Lotto & Book Shop in Tauranga.

Nine other players also each won $20,650 with Lotto Second Division.

Ashburton family wins $28.6m

Tonight’s prize pool comes just days after an Ashburton family claimed an astonishing $28.6 million with Powerball First Division.

The winning ticket was sold at Four Square Netherby in Ashburton.

They are regular Lotto players and have used the same numbers for years across five lines on a $7.50 Powerball Pick Your Own ticket.

Their ticket landed them the Powerball jackpot, as well as three Lotto First Division prizes worth $200,000 each.

The winning family, who do not want to be identified, claimed the 11th-largest win in Lotto NZ history.

“It was such a mix of emotions all at once – my husband cried, and none of us knew what to do with ourselves,” the winner said.

What to do if you win

Ticket holders can immediately see if they have won if they bought a ticket through the MyLotto app. Prizes of $1000 or less are automatically credited to the winner’s account.

For prizes exceeding $1000, winners must complete an online prize claim form.

Winners with physical tickets 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 Powerball number.

Lotto Powerball wins in 2026

January 14 – $10.2m, MyLotto, Manawatū-WhanganuiJanuary 21 – $5.3m, MyLotto, OtagoFebruary 14 – $5.08m, Coastlands Lotto, ParaparaumuFebruary 14 – $5.08m, New World Greymouth, GreymouthFebruary 14 – $5.08m, MyLotto, MastertonFebruary 18 – $4.5m, Glen Innes Dairy and Lotto Outlet, AucklandMarch 28 – $12.75m, MyLotto, AucklandMarch 28 – $12.75m, MyLotto, AucklandApril 15 – $14.3m, MyLotto, New PlymouthApril 22 – $5.5m, Whitcoulls Glenfield, AucklandJune 3 – $28.2m, Four Square Netherby, Ashburton

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