Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Couple Claim ‘Mind-Boggling’ $23.3 Million Powerball Prize
29 April 2025
A couple from the upper North Island celebrated with fish and chips on the beach after claiming the largest Powerball prize this year – $23.3 million, which was won in Wednesday’s draw last week.
The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, say that seeing ‘$23,333,333’ on their MyLotto ticket was ‘mind-boggling.’
“I was checking my emails and saw one from Lotto NZ, saying I had won a prize. I thought it must have been something big to get an email,” said the man.
Opening MyLotto, and waiting for his ticket to load, the man was wondering how much he’d won.
“I thought maybe it was the $333,333 – which would have been life-changing itself!”
The virtual draw animation played in the app, and the winning amount was stamped at the top of the ticket.
“I saw the 23 at the start, and it took me a few seconds to figure out it was $23 million, it was absolutely mind-boggling.”
The man went to tell his wife the good news.
“She could see I was tearful and asked what was wrong. I just blurted it out – ‘we’ve won 23.3 million dollars!’”
“We’re always joking with each other, so of course she didn’t believe me… until I showed her the ticket on MyLotto.”
The couple spent the rest of the day not quite believing what had happened.
“We’re both shocked to our core. It’s going to take a while to sink in, and I don’t think it will start to feel real until we see it in the bank.”
The couple celebrated their win with good ol’ Kiwi fish and chips on the beach and chatted about their family’s future.
“We live a simple life and will continue to – but what we can now do for our children, and our grandchildren – that’s what’s life-changing,” said the man.
Notes:
- This is the largest Powerball prize won since December 2024 when a man from New Plymouth won $23.3 million.
- The winning $23.3 million Powerball First Division ticket was sold on MyLotto for the draw on Wednesday 23 April.
- The prize is made up of $23 million from Powerball First Division and $333,333 from Lotto First Division.
- The winners would like to remain anonymous and do not wish to provide any further comment at this stage.
Powerball wins in 2025
| Date | Prize | Store | Location | |
| 1 | 8 January | $7 million | MyLotto | Wellington |
| 2 | 22 January | $8.3 million | MyLotto | Taranaki |
| 3 | 8 February | $10.5 million | Glenview Centre Lotto & Post | Hamilton |
| 4 | 26 February | $10.5 million | Paper Plus Waihi & Toyworld | Waihi |
| 5 | 15 March | $5.5 million | New World St Martins | Christchurch |
| 6 | 15 March | $5.5 million | New World Gardens | Dunedin |
| 7 | 22 March | $5.3 million | Windsor On the Spot Express | Port Chalmers |
| 8 | 23 April | $23.3 million | MyLotto | Upper North Island |
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