$1m winner two numbers shy of $28 million

A Bay of Plenty man was two numbers away from winning last Saturday's $28 million Powerball jackpot. File Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

A Bay of Plenty man was two numbers away from winning last Saturday's $28 million Powerball jackpot, but he collected a $1 million first division prize instead.

NZ Lotteries' chief executive Todd McLeay said today the man, who wanted to remain anonymous, didn't normally play Lotto but was attracted to buy a ticket at Te Puke Four Square by last week's big jackpot.

"I've never won anything in my whole life, not even a chook raffle, so it was a real surprise when we checked the ticket on Sunday morning to find it was a winner," the man said.

"Our very first line on the ticket matched the winning Lotto numbers in the paper. It was out of the blue, and such a surreal feeling to think we were now millionaires."

He said his Powerball number was number 6 though, not the number 8 needed to win the big jackpot.

"Whilst we were very close to winning the $28 million, we are more than happy with our million," the man said.

"We're close to retirement age, and have adult children buying their own houses and having families, so we can think of plenty of ways to spend this money."

Lotto Powerball jackpotted to a "must be won" $32 million draw this weekend.

If there are no first division Powerball winners, the pot will be shared by second division Powerball winners, or failing that, third division winners.

- NZPA