A self-proclaimed "westie" from Auckland has come forward to claim the largest ever individual Powerball prize of $33 million.

Last night's $33-million Lotto jackpot has earned one lucky ticket holder a fortune, while $22.6 million remains unclaimed from last week's Big Wednesday jackpot.

Five numbers - plus the crucial Powerball number four - was all it took for one person to take home last night's must-win $33 million jackpot.

They say life is a lottery - one Kiwis may feel they lost this week. But don't let the odd America's Cup defeat or missed Powerball jackpot get you down. Research shows your dreams are achievable.

Lotto Powerball has jackpotted to $32 million thanks to huge sales for the must-win draw adding to the pot.

A Lotto-winning couple who struck it big with a $15.7 million jackpot earlier this year have some simple advice for anyone who wins tonight's enormous Powerball prize - get good financial advice and keep the win quiet.

Punters feeling lucky this weekend have a shot at winning $27 million as Lotto's Powerball has jackpotted to one of its highest amounts ever.

With a combined record prize pool of $47 million up for grabs across Big Wednesday and Lotto Powerball this week, Lotto officials have named the only five outlets to sell a winning ticket in both games.

"It's not every day you get to hug somebody and tell them 'Congratulations, you are a millionaire'."

The identity of Northland's overnight millionaire who won a first division Lotto prize of $1 million remains a mystery.

A Blenheim family has claimed their $10.8 million Lotto windfall - three weeks after winning the prize.

Two Lotto players with tickets worth more than $600,000 and $85,500 are among big winners yet to claim their prizes.

Someone in Auckland has woken up a million dollars richer this morning.

A West Coast ticket has cleaned out the lottery Powerball jackpot of $15 million.

NZ Lotteries chief executive Wayne Pickup said the title was largely due to former Te Kauwhata checkout operator Trevor's $26.5 million Powerball win in April.

An octogenarian from Canterbury says her Lotto First Division win this week was written in the stars, but the astrological advice for today is not to spend up large.

New Zealand can be a small place when you have a secret to hide - so imagine having one worth $20.5 million.

A vintage motorcycle buff kept his $20.5 million-winning Lotto ticket hidden in his sock drawer before claiming the prize because he "wanted the magic" to continue.

Lotto survey reveals most of us would keep working and not make public the news of overnight windfall.

A quarter-century on, we ask the question: Does winning Lotto make you happy?