Lotto managers say the Lotto powerball jackpot will likely hit $23 million next week - although two lucky winners will not be complaining after sharing $1 million tonight.
Despite the powerball jackpot not being won, players in Taupo and Queenstown shared the $1m first division prize, with wins each worth $500,000. Those winning tickets were sold at supermarkets.
NZ Lotteries' chief executive Todd McLeay said the powerball first division prize next week could be "life-changing" for the winners.
If the powerball first division eventually reaches the threshold of $30 million, a "must-be won" draw would be called for that week -- something that has only happened about five times -- with the potential for the prize to be split between second division winners or even third division punters.
The last "must be won" powerball draw was in April, when the prize of over $35m prize was split between two tickets from Dannevirke and Hamilton which each won $17.7m.
