An Auckland man went "white as a sheet" when he woke his wife with news they had won $15.3 million in Powerball, the first jackpot claimed under the new 14-ball format.
The couple, who want to remain anonymous, play Lotto regularly and found out about their win during their usual Sunday routine.
The man said he had been checking his ticket on MyLotto, as he did every Sunday morning, when his numbers kept coming up.
"It was unbelievable," he said.
His wife was still in bed, so he went straight to wake her. She said she thought something terrible had happened.
"He stood there and was as white as a sheet," the woman said.
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He said nothing and showed her the winning ticket. Unsure whether she was awake or dreaming, she asked if he was kidding.
"I kept saying, 'No, it can't be right. How can it be right? There must be something wrong.' It felt so surreal," she said.
The couple said the rest of the day was a blur. They left the house for a walk and some lunch to find some normality but felt too sick to eat.
For now they are keeping the win quiet, the man said. The couple plan to tell their children once they have "got our own heads around it".
The woman said the money would set their children up and help the couple fulfil a long-held wish to retire near the beach.
"We're not extravagant people so we're not looking for anything flash - just somewhere our family can come and be together," she said.
There may be a few treats along the way. The man said a new phone was first on his list, followed by perhaps "a gold-plated toothbrush", he joked.
His wife has been keeping him grounded. She said he had floated the idea of a gold Rolex, but he did not even wear a watch.
"I have been looking at the price of steak a little differently since we won, though," she said.
"We might even treat ourselves to fillet instead of rump next time we go grocery shopping."
Powerball wins in 2026:
January 14: $10.2 million (Manawatū-Whanganui)
January 21: $5.3 million (Otago)
February 14: $5.08 million (Paraparaumu)
February 14: $5.08 million (Masterton)
February 14: $5.08 million (Greymouth)
February 18: $4.5 million (Auckland)
March 28: $12.75 million (Auckland)
March 28: $12.75 million (Auckland)
April 15: $14.3 million (New Plymouth)
April 22: $5.5 million (Auckland)
June 3: $28.6 million (Ashburton)
June 6: $4.5 million (Thames)
July 25: $20.1 million (Auckland)
July 25: $20.1 million (Auckland)
September 5: $28.25 million (Gisborne)
September 12: $5.03 million (Wellington)
September 12: $5.15 million (Richmond)
October 3: $15.3 million (Auckland)
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