1985
The "Sport on the Move" report by the Government-appointed Sports Development Inquiry identifies lotteries as a source of extra revenue for recreation, arts, community projects and sports.
December 1985
Cabinet asks the Department of Internal Affairs to prepare a detailed proposal for the introduction of Lotto.
February 1986
Cabinet approval for the introduction of Lotto.
November 1986
Enabling legislation introduced to Parliament.
December 1986
The Government appoints an Interim New Zealand Lotteries Commission.
April 1987
Parliament passes enabling legislation with a vote of 47-20 in favour.
1 June 1987
New Zealand Lotteries Commission established. Golden Kiwi came under the Commission's authority and sales for the 12 months to 31 March 1988 were $75,995,880.
22 July 1987
The first Lotto tickets go on sale.
1 August 1987
Lotto's first draw. The numbers were 4, 8, 16, 29, 32, and 40. The bonus ball was 30. The First Division prize on offer was $359,808.
14 September 1989
First Instant Kiwi games go on sale following the final Golden Kiwi Draw on 30 August. Three months' ticket stock was sold within the first three weeks with tickets running out completely for a period in early November.
3 April 1993
The first Lotto Strike game played. The first four numbers, in order, were 7, 36, 8, and 1.
13 October 1994
The first Keno draw. The numbers were 2, 6, 7, 14, 26, 27, 29, 34, 35, 37, 43, 45, 47, 49, 50, 53, 60, 61, 70, and 80.
17 February 2001
Powerball introduced. The first Powerball number drawn was 3.
17 August 2002
Keno is extended to Saturdays and Sundays.
2 November 2002
A second bonus ball is introduced to Lotto. The first bonus ball for the 2 November 2002 draw was 10 and the second bonus ball was 16.
10 May 2004
Keno extended with a 1pm draw and a 6pm draw each day of the week.
8 August 2004
Lotto First Division is now a million dollars every week and shared evenly between winners. Second Division prize increased from an average of $4,000 to an average of $20,000. Average prize values in all other divisions also increase. Second bonus ball phased out due to customer demand for simplicity.
21 August 2004
Peter McCabe wins $250,000 when he is the first person to spin Lotto's Winning Wheel. All tickets are eligible for the Winning Wheel, which gives another chance every week to win a million dollars or other great prizes.
18 August 2005
NZ Lotteries new look website is launched bringing fresh information to players in a more user friendly format. The site's new features include a winners' stories page and each Lotteries game has its own dedicated section.
4 September 2005
Kathy Laugesen becomes the first person win $1 million on Lotto's Winning Wheel. The Winning Wheel winning ticket holder spins every week live on Saturday's Lotto Draw.
26 October 2005
Big Wednesday, a mid-week game, is launched giving players the chance to win the ultimate lifestyle. The prize pool on offer includes $2 million in cash and luxury prizes consisting of Porsche 911, Range Rover Vogue V8, $50,000 worth of luxury travel every year for five years, $250,000 American Express Platinum card, Mustang luxury launch and a $500,000 bach.
8 February 2006
The Biggest win ever for Big Wednesday First Division was in Thames, where the Dip ticket purchased from Martina Four Square & Lotto netted $12,820,124 as well as the Second Division prize of $233,979.
20 May 2006
A Lotto ticket bought in Kaeo in Northland wins a Lotto Powerball First Division prize of $17,992,975 - the largest Powerball jackpot ever won by a single ticket in New Zealand.
30 June 2006
NZ Lotteries transfers a record $138.5 million to the NZ Lottery Grants Board for distribution to the community.
5 August 2006
NZ Lotteries celebrates Lotto's 1000th Draw with an amazing 1,100 extra prizes on offer for any player who buys a Lotto ticket. 1000 players win instant prizes of $1001 while 100 major prizes ranging from $10,000 to a top prize of $1 million.
7 December 2006
Big Wednesday launches exciting new prizes. On offer as part of winning the ultimate lifestyle is an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, an Audi Q7, $250,000 American Express Platinum card, $250,000 in First Class Travel, Rayglass Legend 2500, $500,000 Bach and a $750,000 Luxury apartment.
30 December 2006
28 Lotto players celebrate more than just the New Year after scooping the top prizes in Lotto’s biggest ever Christmas holiday promotion. Over $4 million in prizes were won in this promotion, with the 28 top prize winners joined in their celebrations by 1,000 players who already won $1,001 instant prizes in the three weeks leading up to Christmas.
17 March 2007
The second biggest Strike prize of $1.28 million was won on ticket sold at Whitcoulls, Auckland International Airport on St Patricks Day.
21 May 2007
A Devonport Keno player’s mistake proved to be a lucky one - winning him two prizes of $500,000, and making him Keno’s biggest-ever single prize winner. The new millionaire was said to be delighted with his win.
13 August 2007
Lotto Survey Reveals Big Winners Secrets
NZ Lotteries publishes the results of a survey of 75 past big winners (who had won between $400,000 and $15 million plus). The survey shows that Horticulture and farm workers (9%), taxi and truck drivers (5%) and office workers (13%) are the luckiest professions in New Zealand
The survey asked Lotto Family* winners a range of questions about their win – such as what they spent their money on, how they felt after winning, and advice they would give other winners having been through the experience themselves.
25 August 2007
Lotto celebrates its 20th Birthday on Saturday 25 August with $5.5 million in extra prizes on offer including three prizes of $1 million and 10 prizes of $250,000. The three millionaires made on the night were in Auckland, Foxton and Lower Hutt.
28 October 2007
The minimum First Division Lotto Powerball prize changes from $1 million to $3 million. On offer every week for Powerball players is a guaranteed $3 million! A second big change is that Powerball players can now choose their Powerball number from between 1 and 10, rather than the previous 1 and 8.
05 April 2008
The biggest ever Lotto and Powerball combined single ticket of $19,054,243 is won by a New Plymouth family who bought their ticket at Pak N Save New Plymouth.
