Lotto New Zealand says the Powerball jackpot has been on a roll since it was last struck on August 21.
That win saw a young woman from Auckland become an overnight millionaire, pocketing $11.5 million just as the city entered alert level 4 lockdown.
At the time, the woman told the Herald she didn't realise she had won even after seeing an email from Lotto the morning after the draw, and initially thought her prize was just $11,500.
The truth sank in after she checked a few more times and called Lotto to confirm the win.
"It was unbelievable. My sister and I just sat in the car screaming – it was such a cool moment," said the woman who did not wish to be named.
"Being in lockdown means there isn't a lot we can do to celebrate, but I went straight into the supermarket and grabbed a few treats. We actually celebrated with icecreams in the car," she said.
A staggering $20 million is up for grabs in Lotto Power Ball tonight. Photo / NZME
Her win was the 15th Powerball strike this year, coming just weeks after a MyLotto player from South Canterbury won $5.3m with Powerball First Division.
A Christchurch family with a baby on the way was another lockdown millionaire, winning $1m on the August 29 Lotto First Division draw.
Last month a Wellington couple took home $400,000 from the Strike Four prize.
They were similarly mistaken by the number of zeros on the prize and thought they had won $400 at first.
"I buy a Triple Dip most weeks so had no idea if I'd won something with Lotto, Powerball or Strike – a big win never even crossed my mind to be honest," the man said.
Some stores are closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, and live Lotto draws cannot take place while Auckland is in alert level 3 because they do not meet the Health Ministry's Covid-19 safety guidelines.
January 2: $2.8 million - The Market Store, Twizel January 2: $2.8 million - Fresh Choice, Te Anau January 6: $4.5 million - Te Aroha Supermarket, Te Aroha January 20: $8.5 million - Western Heights Foodmarket, Rotorua February 27: $22.5 million - MyLotto, Christchurch March 13: $8.25 million - Paper Plus, Matamata March 20: $5.2 million - Hornby Mall Lotto, Christchurch March 24: $4.25 million - MyLotto, Northland April 17: $14.25 million - MyLotto, Auckland May 8: $12.3 million - Hylite Dairy, Auckland June 5: $16.5 million - MyLotto , Hamilton June 26: $13 million - New World Merrilands, New Plymouth July 24: $17.16 million - West City Lotto, Auckland July 31: $5.3 million - MyLotto, Ashburton August 21: $11.5 million - MyLotto, Auckland
