He only found it again when he picked the book back up after a break from reading.<\/p>\n
“I put the ticket straight into my wallet ready to check the next time I went to the shop,” said the man, who wants to remain anonymous.<\/p>\n
‘I think I was in shock’<\/p>\n
Even though he knew a big prize had been sold locally, the penny did not drop.<\/p>\n
“I knew they had sold a big one – but you never think it’s going to be you, do you? Even when I found the ticket, I didn’t put two and two together.”<\/p>\n
When he scanned it at the shop’s self-check machine, the screen “flashed major prize”. It took the Lotto operator and the winning music to break the news to him.<\/p>\n
“My first thought was that it was likely a few thousand dollars, it still didn’t cross my mind that it would be $20 million,” he said.<\/p>\n
“He was more excited than me. I think I was in shock.”<\/p>\n
A new top prize of $60m – but a mathematician explains why it’s never been harder to win. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n
The win is made up of $20 million from Powerball First Division and $111,111 from Lotto First Division. <\/p>\n
It came from a $40 million jackpot, the largest of the year so far<\/a>, which he shared with a young Auckland couple who claimed their half the same night<\/a>.<\/p>\n He has not told anyone about the money yet but plans to tell close family soon.<\/p>\n “I’m going to take things slow and really think about what to do with this money. I do want to go on an overseas trip, but that’s the only plan so far.”<\/p>\n Lotto NZ had urged Powerball players in the area to check their tickets after the prize sat unclaimed for weeks. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n![\"Lotto](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/lotto-numbers-RKJV6MC26FFOTF6SGIS5GBGNVU.png\")
<\/p>\n