Latest news with #LottoNewZealand
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Powerball jackpot climbs to $30 million as two Lotto players win $500,000 each
Two Lotto players have each won $500,000 in Wednesday night's, June 18, Lotto First Division draw. According to Lotto New Zealand, one of the winning tickets was purchased at New World Papakura, while the other was sold via MyLotto to a player located in Auckland. Two Lotto first division winners announced as Powerball and Strike Four jackpots roll over While the First Division winners each take home $500,000, the Powerball jackpot was not struck during the draw. As a result, the Powerball prize has rolled over to Saturday night, June 21, and will be worth an estimated $30 million. The jackpot has seen consistent growth in recent weeks and is now among the highest in recent draws. Also read: Mystery Aussie from Sydney bags entire $100m Powerball jackpot, gets tax office warning In addition to the Powerball rollover , Strike Four also went unclaimed on Wednesday night. The Strike Four jackpot will rise to $400,000 for the next draw. Live Events Lotto New Zealand is encouraging all players to check their tickets and play responsibly. Ticket holders can verify results through authorized retailers, the official MyLotto app, or the Lotto NZ website. The rising Powerball jackpot is expected to drive high demand ahead of Saturday's draw. Drawings for Powerball and Lotto are held every Wednesday and Saturday, with strict oversight in place for number selection and verification. The Lotto First Division, Powerball, and Strike Four draws are key components of the national lottery system in New Zealand. Operated by Lotto New Zealand, these games fund a range of community initiatives, including education, arts, and local development. The odds of winning a Lotto First Division prize are 1 in 3.8 million, while the odds of winning Powerball depend on correctly matching both the base Lotto numbers and the additional Powerball number. Two Lotto players each secured a $500,000 prize in the latest First Division draw, while the Powerball jackpot went unclaimed. The Powerball prize has now rolled over to $30 million for Saturday's, June 21, drawing. Strike Four also rolled over, with a $400,000 jackpot up for grabs this weekend Lotto players are advised to purchase tickets ahead of time to avoid last-minute congestion. Saturday's draw will determine if the Powerball jackpot continues to roll over or finds a winner.
Scoop
09-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Lotto NZ Tracks Down $500,000 Winner Who Had Lost Ticket
Press Release – Lotto New Zealand With prize claims only valid for 12 months and the clock ticking down, the Government-operated lottery looked for clues about how they could find their winner. A Lotto winner who lost their paper ticket and was unaware they had won big has received their $500,000 First Division prize after Lotto NZ sought help from the player's bank to track them down. The winning ticket was sold at Pak n Save Mt Albert in June last year but no winner came forward. With prize claims only valid for 12 months and the clock ticking down, the Government-operated lottery looked for clues about how they could find their winner. 'Our only real lead was that the ticket was paid for with an ASB card,' says Lotto NZ Head of Corporate Communications, Will Hine. 'We had electronic details of the transaction but no idea who the card actually belonged to, because that information isn't visible to retailers.' 'We knew ASB would be unable to give us their customer's details for privacy reasons, so instead asked them to pass on a confidential message to their customer that they might want to contact the Lotto NZ winner's team.' The bank helped out and the customer then got in touch with Lotto NZ. The winner, who wished to remain anonymous, says she had low expectations about receiving a prize. 'In the country I grew up in you would have to have a lottery ticket to claim a prize and I realised I must have lost my one. So I didn't think we'd get given the prize.' Because the ticket had been lost, Lotto NZ went through a very detailed process to determine the rightful winner, including examining the customer's purchasing history. It concluded that she had bought the winning ticket, and paid the $500,000 prize several weeks ahead of the prize's 12-month expiration date. The woman says she and her husband are planning to use some of the money to bring family members to Aotearoa for a holiday. 'We want to take them to see the snow this winter. We think we'll go to Queenstown and also Rotorua.' 'When I got the news about being paid out, I couldn't sleep,' the winner shared. 'This money means we can save for a better life for ourselves and our family. We're incredibly happy.' Hine says it was a fantastic result for the customer. 'We were absolutely delighted we were able to pay this customer her prize. She was quite emotional when we met up with her and her husband was over the moon as well. 'While any prize money that is unclaimed after 12 months goes back to our wider pool of money for future prize promotions, obviously we always prefer that it reaches the rightful winner where possible. 'If we get sufficient information that allows us to be sure we've found the correct winner, then a prize will be paid. 'We always recommend players write their name on the back of their ticket, in case it's lost and then found.'
Metro
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Soldier Soldier star Marise Wipani dies on her 61st birthday
Marise Wipani, who starred in the 90s drama Soldier Soldier and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, has died. The actress died on Friday, which was her 61st birthday, it has been confirmed. 'Marise passed peacefully today on her 61st birthday surrounded by family and friends,' a post on her Facebook page read. 'She just wanted to say….I have shuffled off this mortal coil. Good byyye, good luuuck, good God!!! Quote from Driving Miss Daisy.' Her cause of death has not been revealed. As well as Soldier Soldier, which ran for 82 episodes from 1991 to 1997, the TV star was known for her appearances in Shortland Street, Xena: Warrior Princess, Street Legal, and Rude Awakenings. In addition to TV, she appeared in several movies, including Came a Hot Friday (1985), Mark II (1986), Grievous Bodily Harm (1988), Bonjour Timothy (1995), and Channelling Baby (1999). More Trending Wipani was also a runner-up in the Miss New Zealand contest in the 80s, having been scouted at a photography studio and invited to join. Then, in 1987, she became one of the first presenters of the live televised draw for Lotto New Zealand. In her later years, after retreating from larger roles, she appeared in smaller-scale productions. She also had an ordinary job in a café in the 2010s and was 'living modestly'. This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates. If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. For more stories like this, check our entertainment page. Follow Entertainment on Twitter and Facebook for the latest celeb and entertainment updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. View More » MORE: Martin Scorsese admits one of his most iconic 90s films 'has no plot' MORE: Inside Oasis' setlist after iconic song is heard in rehearsals MORE: All the stars in the Celebrity Gogglebox 2025 cast including TV legends
Daily Mirror
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Soldier, Soldier star tragically dies at at 61 as co-stars left devastated
Marise Wipani has tragically died aged 61. The actress, best known for appearing in Soldier, Soldier and Xena: Warrior Princess, died on her birthday on Friday. Her Facebook page announced the news of her death in a sad message to friends and family. It read: "Marise passed peacefully today on her 61st birthday surrounded by family and friends. "She just wanted to say....I have shuffled off this mortal coil. Good byyye, good luuuck, good God!!! Quote from Driving Miss Daisy." Her cause of death was not shared in the post. The New Zealand actress' co-star Jay Laga'aia, who appeared on British drama Soldier, Soldier with her, said that he was "devastated" to hear about her death. He said: "You are so young and I will miss you. We have worked together over the years and I was always so pleased to have you on set. Travel well my sister, love you always." While Ian Mune, who directed Came a Hot Friday (which she starred in), said: "Your presence and performance added a whole layer to that movie arising from your truth and honesty. It was what always struck me whenever we met. Fly high, Princess.' Other friends and fans also shared their respects, with one writing: "Devastated to hear this. She was always such a rock star and incredibly funny. We lost a beautiful woman today." While another commented: "So sad to hear this. Love and hugs to whanau." A third sharing the post wrote: "Heart broken but you'll never be forgotten sis. After all your achievements in life to go so humbly I will miss you and cherish your memory thank you for our final conversation lastnight, for giving me some of your precious final moments. Much love Marise til we meet again ,no more pain Moe moe ra xoxox." Marise first began her career in the early 80s when she was spotted by the Miss New Zealand pageant producer, who had encouraged her to compete. She went on to be cast as a variety of characters on the Billy T. James Show and in 1985, won the role as Esmerelda in Ian Mune's Came a Hot Friday. In the late 80s and early 90s, she became the host of the televised draw for Lotto New Zealand.
Scoop
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Lotto NZ Unveils Bold New ‘Imagine' Powerball TV Advertisement
Press Release – Lotto New Zealand Lotto NZ Chief Executive Jason Delamore says Lotto NZ wanted to focus on the way a Powerball win can allow players to live out their wildest dreams. Lotto NZ has taken its storytelling to new heights in its latest 'Imagine' TV advertisement. The advert focuses on a player who sheds all his inhibitions – and layers – as he follows through on a promise made to mates at the time of purchasing a Powerball ticket. Lotto NZ Chief Executive Jason Delamore says Lotto NZ wanted to focus on the way a Powerball win can allow players to live out their wildest dreams. 'When our players buy a ticket, a big part of the experience is imagining how the prize money would be spent. 'Part of the fun is doing that socially, when we have those 'what will you do if you win' conversations with friends and families. 'This advert builds on that idea, focussing on the adventures of a winner who delivers in exhilarating style after making a bold promise at the time of buying his ticket.' Lotto NZ Chief Marketing Officer Leah Neilson says the team was intent on telling an uplifting and joyful story. 'Our research showed that in the wake of the pandemic viewers want more playfulness and humour, so for this advert we made an early decision to rachet up the fun. 'Some of our adverts have been poignant and tugged at the heartstrings, for example the story of the dog named Wilson that travels around the world to his owner. 'For this one, we wanted to celebrate the way a big win can liberate us of all constraints and live life to the full with those closest to us.' Set to Enigma's soaring 1993 hit, Return to Innocence, the latest advertisement is the seventh 'Imagine' advertisement released by the Government-owned lottery organisation. It was produced by ad agency DDB in conjunction with New Zealand production house Good Oil and local director Joel Kefali, with filming in Japan and New Zealand. In the 2023/24 financial year, Lotto NZ created 64 millionaires, including 23 Powerball multi-millionaires, while paying 100% of its profits – a record $434 million – to the Lottery Grants Board for distribution to the community. The television commercial will air for the first time at about 8.05pm on Saturday 31 May on TVNZ1, just after the televised Lotto draw. Previous Powerball 'Imagine' advertising campaigns
