Giselle Steiner, of Dunedin, says she has bought Lotto tickets since they first went on sale, but is yet to have a "big win". Photo: Peter McIntosh

One of three lucky punters to win a share of Lotto's record breaking Powerball tonight bought their ticket at Pak N Save in Dunedin.

The three winners took home a $13.3 million share of the $40 million prize tonight.

The winning numbers were 29, 27, 37, 18, 33, 3; the bonus number was 36 and Powerball was 7.

The other winning tickets were sold at Oparau Roadhouse in Te Awamutu and on MyLotto to a player from Hamilton.

The must-go biggest cash prize on offer was rolled down to the three Second Division winners after the First Division failed to be won.

Stores all over the country were packed today and the website crashed just before tonight's draw as punters scrambled to buy last minute tickets.

Powerball mania hits country

Powerball mania has hit the nation as Kiwis line up at outlets around the country, hoping for a shot at tonight's big $40 million prize.

Queues of people with a "got to be in to win attitude'' spilled from Dunedin shops yesterday as jackpot fever swept the country.

Lotto Powerball will jackpot at a record $40 million - but your chances of winning a Powerball line are about 1 in 38 million.

Lotto New Zealand corporate communications adviser Kirsten Robinson said about 70% of tickets sold were Triple Dips.

South Dunedin Night 'n Day owner Murray Devereux said his lucky Lotto shop had been so busy a second temporary ticket terminal would be installed in the shop today.

"We have experienced a big spike in Lotto ticket sales accumulating over the past three weeks.''

"It has been so busy I have found myself working weekends just to keep up.''

Two first division tickets had been sold at the store in the past six weeks, and the store had the second highest number of first division wins in the region.

Mr Devereux said there was no secret to the jackpot success.

"We just have a very lucky terminal.''

Ticket buyers spoken to by the Otago Daily Times fantasised about a range of possible jackpot win purchases, including race cars, new ambulances, holidays, exotic animals and houses.

About half of the ticket buyers spoken to said they had never bought a ticket before, or they only purchased tickets when the prize money was particularly large.

Problem Gambling Foundation New Zealand chief executive officer Graeme Ramsey said Lotto was one of the "lower scale'' gambling problems.

However, when there was a jackpot problems increased.

"As jackpots increase, people can spend more than they can afford and therefore they don't buy things they or their family need because they are thinking, if I win, that money will solve everything.''

Mr Ramsey said the foundation was not "anti-gambling'' and he planned to buy a Lotto ticket.

If no single ticket wins Powerball first division, the prize will be added to the next highest division with winners.

- Additional reporting by NZ Herald