$42m Powerball jackpot second-largest ever

Photo: ODT files
Photo: ODT files
The $42 million Lotto Powerball jackpot for Wednesday will be New Zealand’s second-largest prize ever, if won.

Lotto New Zealand says the largest prize won in the country was a $44 million Powerball prize won by a young couple from the Hibiscus Coast in November 2016.

‘‘Wednesday’s $42 million Powerball jackpot is one of the largest prizes ever on offer in New Zealand, it’s one for the Lotto NZ history books,’’ senior corporate communications manager Kirsten Robinson said.

Some 1.5 million tickets were purchased for Saturday’s $35 million Powerball draw, which did not result in a winner.

This is roughly double the number of tickets Lotto usually sells for a draw.