West Auckland man finds $20.1m Lotto ticket used as bookmark
Friday 25 September 2026 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated In this story Lotto
A man from West Auckland discovered that a Lotto ticket he had been using as a bookmark for nearly two months was worth $20.1 million. The winning ticket was purchased from the Blockhouse Bay Postshop & Stationers for the July 25 draw. He found the ticket after picking up the book again following a break from reading.
Key facts
5 facts
- Winning ticket value: $20.1 million
- Ticket purchase location: Blockhouse Bay Postshop & Stationers
- Draw date: July 25
- Prize breakdown: $20m Powerball First Division and $111,111 Lotto First Division
- Unclaimed prize: $333,333 from June 27 draw at Four Square St Heliers
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
A West Auckland man has discovered that a Lotto ticket he used as a bookmark for almost two months is worth $20.1 million. The winning ticket was purchased from Blockhouse Bay Postshop & Stationers for the July 25 draw. The man only found the ticket when he returned to reading after a break.
The winner initially believed the 'major prize' alert on a self-check machine meant he had won a few thousand dollars. He only realised the true scale of the win when a Lotto operator processed the ticket and the winning music played. The total prize consists of $20 million from the Powerball First Division and $111,111 from the Lotto First Division.
The man shared the $40 million jackpot with a young Auckland couple who claimed their portion on the night of the draw. He has not yet told his family about the win but intends to do so soon. His current plans include taking things slow and potentially going on an overseas trip.
Lotto NZ is still searching for another winner in Auckland for a $333,333 prize from a June 27 draw. That ticket was sold at Four Square St Heliers. Head of corporate communications Will Hine has encouraged players to check their bookshelves for the unclaimed ticket.
Where reports differ
- One report states the man has kept the news from family so far, while another says he plans to tell close family soon
Compiled from reports by Stuff, 1News and Otago Daily Times.
