New Plymouth couple's quiet $14.3m Powerball celebration

TL;DR

Couple Claims Prize: A New Plymouth couple claimed their $14.3 million Powerball win from the April 15 draw.[[1]](https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/22/whole-body-went-numb-taranaki-couple-claim-143m-powerball-prize)[[2]](https://business.scoop.co.nz/2026/04/22/my-whole-body-went-numb-new-plymouth-couple-claim-14-3-million-powerball-prize)
$14.3 Million Total: The prize includes $14 million from Powerball First Division and $333,333 from Lotto First Division.[[1]](https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/22/whole-body-went-numb-taranaki-couple-claim-143m-powerball-prize)
Quiet Celebration: They marked the win with takeaway food and champagne before bigger family plans.[[1]](https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/22/whole-body-went-numb-taranaki-couple-claim-143m-powerball-prize)

The story at a glance

A New Plymouth couple, who bought their ticket on MyLotto, won $14.3 million in the Powerball draw on April 15, 2026. The woman discovered the win by checking her ticket online and shared the shock with her mother and husband. This is being reported now as Lotto NZ released details after they claimed the prize on April 22. The ticket used numbers she had played for years, with Powerball number 5 locked in six months earlier.[[2]](https://business.scoop.co.nz/2026/04/22/my-whole-body-went-numb-new-plymouth-couple-claim-14-3-million-powerball-prize)[[1]](https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/22/whole-body-went-numb-taranaki-couple-claim-143m-powerball-prize)

Key points

Ticket sold on MyLotto to a New Plymouth player for the Wednesday, April 15 draw.
Prize breakdown: $14 million Powerball First Division plus $333,333 Lotto First Division.
Woman matched Lotto numbers progressively while checking, then saw Powerball match.
She wishes to remain anonymous; couple plans to help others but needs time to decide how.
This is the ninth Powerball multi-million win of 2026.[[2]](https://business.scoop.co.nz/2026/04/22/my-whole-body-went-numb-new-plymouth-couple-claim-14-3-million-powerball-prize)
Celebration: takeaway meal and champagne over the weekend.

Details and context

The woman had played the same Lotto numbers for years but switched to a fixed Powerball number 5 about six months ago, after previously picking randomly. A few days before the draw, she discussed with her mother how a win could help people, including setting her up financially.

She checked the ticket on Thursday after hearing Powerball was struck, cheering each matching number until all six Lotto numbers hit, followed by the Powerball. She called her mother first—they cried—then her husband at work, who struggled through the rest of his day.

The couple, remaining anonymous, are letting the win sink in amid plans to support others. The story echoes past New Plymouth wins, like a $14.3m player strike a week earlier, but this reveals the winners.[[3]](https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/16/new-plymouth-powerball-player-pockets-143-million)

Key quotes

“Then by the time I’d processed that, I saw the Powerball circle, and I dropped my phone in shock – I didn’t even know how much it was at that point, but my whole body went numb.” — the woman, Lotto NZ press release.[[2]](https://business.scoop.co.nz/2026/04/22/my-whole-body-went-numb-new-plymouth-couple-claim-14-3-million-powerball-prize)

“We’ll celebrate with our family in the future – but for now that was perfect.” — the couple on their initial takeaway and champagne.[[1]](https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/22/whole-body-went-numb-taranaki-couple-claim-143m-powerball-prize)

“One thing we know is that we want to help others with this. We just need time to figure out the best way to do that.” — the couple.[[2]](https://business.scoop.co.nz/2026/04/22/my-whole-body-went-numb-new-plymouth-couple-claim-14-3-million-powerball-prize)

Why it matters

Powerball wins like this highlight the life-altering odds and dreams of everyday players in New Zealand. For the couple, it means financial security and chances to aid family and others without immediate publicity. Watch for any public announcements on their philanthropy, though they may stay private.

What changed

Before, they were an anonymous MyLotto player noted in initial reports; now, they have claimed the prize and shared select reaction details while staying unnamed.

FAQ

Q: How did the New Plymouth woman realise she won Powerball?

A: She logged into MyLotto on Thursday after hearing it was struck, matched numbers step-by-step while cheering, then saw the Powerball circle and dropped her phone before seeing the amount. Her body went numb from shock. She called her mother and husband right after.[[1]](https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/22/whole-body-went-numb-taranaki-couple-claim-143m-powerball-prize)

Q: What did the couple do to celebrate their win?

A: Over the weekend, they shared a takeaway meal and a glass of champagne. They plan a bigger celebration with family later but kept it quiet for now.[[2]](https://business.scoop.co.nz/2026/04/22/my-whole-body-went-numb-new-plymouth-couple-claim-14-3-million-powerball-prize)

Q: What are the couple's plans for the prize money?

A: They want to help others, including family, but are taking time to decide the best way. The woman had discussed helping people like her mother days before winning.[[1]](https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/22/whole-body-went-numb-taranaki-couple-claim-143m-powerball-prize)

Q: When was the winning Powerball draw and how was the ticket bought?

A: The draw was on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The ticket was bought on MyLotto using numbers played for years, with Powerball 5 fixed six months prior.[[2]](https://business.scoop.co.nz/2026/04/22/my-whole-body-went-numb-new-plymouth-couple-claim-14-3-million-powerball-prize)