Auckland residents are being urged to check their Lotto tickets after a $4.5 million Powerball prize from the February 18 draw remains unclaimed. Lotto New Zealand is actively seeking the winner, who purchased the ticket at Glen Innes Dairy and Lotto Outlet, hoping to connect them with their life-changing winnings. The winning ticket represents one of twelve Powerball millionaires made so far this year, and the first in the Auckland region.
The unclaimed prize is unusual, according to Lotto NZ Head of Corporate Communications, Will Hine. “We usually hear from our Powerball winners within a few days – it’s rare they go this long before claiming,” Hine said. “It’s a sizeable prize, and we want the winner to have their money as soon as possible.” The organization acknowledges the possibility that the winner is aware of their good fortune but is taking time to process the news privately, or, perhaps more surprisingly, that they haven’t yet checked their ticket.
What Happens When a Lotto Prize Goes Unclaimed?
Lotto NZ isn’t immediately concerned, noting that winners often need time to adjust to such significant news. “It’s a lot to take in, so the winner may be quietly processing the news before they get in touch,” Hine explained. “But there’s every chance they haven’t checked their ticket yet and are happily going about their day, completely unaware they’re a multi‑millionaire.” Lotto NZ is encouraging anyone who purchased a ticket from Glen Innes Dairy and Lotto Outlet to carefully check their numbers.
This isn’t an isolated case. Lotto NZ is also searching for winners of two other unclaimed prizes. A $500,000 prize from a November 1, 2025, draw remains unclaimed, with the winning ticket sold at New World Westport. A $250,000 prize from the February 4 draw, purchased at Paper Plus Thames, is still awaiting its rightful owner. 1News has previously reported on the process Lotto NZ undertakes to locate winners who haven’t come forward.
Powerball and Lotto in New Zealand
The New Zealand Powerball is an add-on game to the main Lotto draw, conducted every Wednesday and Saturday, according to information available on Lotto.net. The current jackpot for the Saturday, March 7, 2026, draw is estimated at $10 million, following a $8 million jackpot in the March 4, 2026 draw, which saw 15,089 winners. The February 25, 2026 draw had a $5 million jackpot and 15,861 winners, while the February 21, 2026 draw offered $4 million and saw 17,240 winners. The largest Powerball jackpot to date was $15,249,999, awarded on February 14, 2026, with 27,473 winners.
How Lotto Funds Community Projects
Lotto New Zealand, established in 1987, operates as a Crown entity under the Gambling Act 2003. As detailed on Wikipedia, profits from Lotto games are channeled to the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, which distributes funding to support recreation, arts, community projects, and sports. Since its inception, Lotto NZ has contributed over $5.9 billion to the Lottery Grants Board, with significant portions allocated to organizations like the New Zealand Film Commission, Creative New Zealand, and Sport New Zealand.
The organization offers a variety of games beyond Powerball and Lotto, including Keno, Bullseye, and Instant Kiwi scratchcards. Powerball jackpots can reach a maximum of $50 million, after which a “Must Be Won” draw is triggered.
Anyone who believes they may hold the winning $4.5 million Powerball ticket is urged to contact Lotto NZ immediately to initiate the prize claim process. The organization encourages players to double-check their tickets, especially those purchased at Glen Innes Dairy and Lotto Outlet around February 18.
Lotto NZ will continue to monitor for a claim and will eventually transfer the unclaimed funds to the Lottery Grants Board, furthering its mission of supporting communities across New Zealand. The next Powerball draw will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2026, offering another chance for players to win big.
Have you checked your ticket? Share your thoughts and experiences with Lotto in the comments below.
