Two Players Win $500K as Powerball Jackpot Hits $25M

Two Lotto players are starting their week with a significant windfall, each claiming $500,000 after matching the winning numbers in Wednesday night’s First Division draw.

The successful tickets were purchased at Freshchoice Waiuku in Auckland’s south and Paper Plus Hāwera in South Taranaki. The winning numbers for the draw were 6, 17, 19, 21, 27, and 32, with 28 as the Bonus Ball and 10 as the Powerball.

Jackpot rolls over as anticipation builds

While First Division was claimed, the major Powerball jackpot remained elusive on Wednesday night. The prize pool has rolled over to Saturday’s draw, where it will sit at $25 million. The Strike Four prize pool has rolled over to $400,000.

Players who purchased tickets at the identified retail locations are encouraged to verify their numbers immediately, either through the MyLotto app or by visiting a retail outlet.

Future format changes on the horizon

This week’s draw occurs against the backdrop of an impending structural change to the Powerball game, representing its most significant modification in nearly 20 years. Scheduled for the second half of 2026, the overhaul will introduce several key adjustments:

• The pool of Powerballs will expand from 10 to 14.
• A new Division 8 prize tier will be introduced.
• The starting jackpot will increase from $4 million to $5 million.
• The maximum jackpot cap will rise from $50 million to $60 million.

Lotto NZ Chief Executive Jason Delamore described the introduction of the Division 8 tier as a “gamechanger,” noting that It’s expected to increase the total number of weekly Powerball winners by approximately 30%, moving from an average of 47,000 to 62,000 winners per draw.

However, the shift in mechanics may have implications for top-tier winners. Delamore cautioned that Powerball Division 1 is likely to be won less frequently in the future, as the expanded number of Powerballs creates a greater number of possible line combinations for each draw. The cost of entry for players will remain unchanged.

For those looking to catch the next opportunity, Saturday’s live draw can be viewed on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ at 8.20pm.