A family from Wellington has won New Zealand's largest jackpot of 2024

A family from Wellington has won the grand prize in last week's Lotto Powerball draw, taking home a staggering NZD 30 million (approximately USD 1.65 million). In addition, they also secured a first division Lotto prize of NZD 166,667 (around USD 92,000). This total win marks the largest in New Zealand since the beginning of 2024.
The man who purchased the winning ticket shared his experience, recalling that he saw news of a jackpot win in Carterton on Saturday evening and thought little of it, as his family resides in Wellington. However, an email from MyLotto informed them that they had won a significant prize. Instead of checking the ticket himself, he gathered all family members together.
Upon seeing the multi-million dollar figure, the winners initially couldn't believe their luck. "We really didn't think it was real—why would it be? We were so stunned and just kept looking at each other, saying, 'What?' 'How?'" he recounted. Just before checking the ticket, his son had jokingly mentioned that if they won a few thousand, he would buy his parents a king-size bed.
The head of the family admitted that they are still coming to terms with their massive win and continue to go to work as usual. "We’ve lived a modest life and don’t plan to change it drastically. We know what it means to go through tough times. So this win will make our lives a little easier," he noted.
Lotto NZ revealed that during their conversation with the winner, they discovered he was from Wellington, not Carterton as initially thought. The man later learned that his son had mistakenly registered the wrong location.
This record win has brought the total number of New Zealand Lotto millionaires in 2024 to 15. The previous largest jackpot this year, amounting to NZD 17.25 million (approximately USD 948,000), was drawn on January 27.
In related news, a couple from the United States won USD 2 million in the Powerball lottery thanks to two identical tickets.