One lucky winner is $27m richer after Lotto's Powerball jackpot struck

Saturday, 27 May 2017

Only a handful of people have won $27 million or more.

The town of Thames will be buzzing after finding out one of their community is $27 million richer after hitting the jackpot in Saturday's Powerball draw.

The winning numbers were: 9, 8, 3, 36, 28 and 2 with18 the bonus ball and 10 the all important Powerball number.

The $27 million jackpot was won by one person, who also took home $333,333 for claiming the Division one prize.

Division two Powerball was also won, with the winner taking home $54,741.

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The winning didn't stop there with three people winning division one Lotto without Powerball.

The winning Powerball ticket was sold at Martina Four Square and Lotto in Thames with the winner taking home the $27 million from Powerball First Division and $333,333 from Lotto First Division.

Lotto said this was the fourth largest Powerball win ever in the history of the game.

Two Lotto players from Orewa and Porirua would also be celebrating tonight after winning $333,333 each with Lotto First Division.

The winning Lotto tickets were sold at Grand Superette in Orewa and Morere Four Square in Porirua.

Meanwhile, a Strike player also won $600,000 with Strike Four tonight.

The winning Strike ticket was sold at Chartwell Food Centre and Lotto in Auckland.

Mayor of Thames Sandra Goudie said she was 'just thrilled' for her town's new millionaire.

'I feel like I've won - this is awesome,' said Goudie.

'I just hope it wasn't someone travelling through.'

Goudie wasn't sure if the win would have much impact on Thames itself, but said that the 'good news would surely have an uplifting effect'.

She urged the winner to 'use it wisely'.

There's only a handful of people who found themselves $27 million or more richer due to Lotto.

The best known Lotto winner is Trevor Cooper, the supermarket checkout operator from Waikato.

Cooper was living week-by-week when he won $27 million in 2012.

In November 2016 an Auckland couple won the biggest jackpot in New Zealand lottery history.

They were struggling to get on the property ladder when the couple from the Hibiscus Coast claimed the prize.

A family in Masterton struck lottery gold in 2009, winning $36.8 million.

The winning family syndicate was made up of a great-grandmother, her two daughters, and her granddaughter. They paid off student loans, and donated two ambulances to the Masterton Free Ambulance service, Lotto NZ said.

In 2013 a man won another large individual prize of $33 million.

While the win reportedly stressed the man, his first thought went to family and friends.

In 2010 a pig-hunter from Papakura took out a $28.7 million lotto jackpot. He drove down to Wellington to collect the winnings.

Lotto said anyone who bought their ticket from any of the winning stores should write their name on the back and check it immediately at any Lotto outlet, online at mylotto.co.nz or through the Lotto NZ App.

HISTORY OF THE BIG ONES

• November 2016: Powerball rolls over and jackpots to $44m, which an Auckland couple won.

• July 2016: Powerball jackpots to $40m

• September 2013: $33m Powerball prize won by a player in West Auckland.

• September 2012: Big Wednesday prize of $27m won by young Tauranga man who bought ticket when getting his hair cut.

• March 2012: A $26m Powerball First Division prize won by buyer from the small town of Te Kauwhata.

• April 2011: Powerball reached its second-ever $30m 'Must Be Won' jackpot. It went on to climb to $35m.

• October 2010: $28.7m Powerball prize won by a player in Papakura in Auckland.

• October 2009: A $22.4m Powerball prize won by buyer from Manukau in Auckland.

• June 2009: Big Wednesday reached $36m. It was won by a family syndicate.

• October 2008: Lotto Powerball reached $30m. Five winners split the prize.

• September 2005: Kathy Laugesen became the first person win $1m on Lotto's Winning Wheel.