When Kiwis tune in for the twice-a-week Lotto draw, they simply see the bright balls bouncing in the tumbler – ever hopeful that their lucky numbers will be read out on screen.
But for a process that may look straightforward on screen, there is a surprising amount of precision and organisation that goes on behind closed doors.
Seven Sharp’s Hilary Barry went behind the scenes at the Lotto studio and found that the magic of the nation’s favourite prize draw is a tightly run operation described as a “well-oiled machine”.
Hilary Barry learns the secrets of the life-changing live draw – Watch on TVNZ+
Though only 50 balls are seen on screen every night, 40 in the main draw and 10 in the Powerball draw, there are four complete sets of Lotto balls which are rotated regularly to ensure absolute fairness.
And they are always handled with gloves – both on-air and off-air.
“It’s so they don’t get grimy,” Lotto crew member Robbie explained to Barry.
“It’s just another measure of security really just to make sure they’re all the same weight all the time.”
The team also has a set of “practice balls” to preserve the longevity of the real ones used on air.
Before every draw, Lotto’s on-set ”A-Rep” and “B-Rep” are responsible for loading and unloading the balls and checking the equipment is running smoothly.
The machines are thoroughly inspected before each live broadcast. Staff peer into the machine looking for anything – even a stray hair – that could interfere with the draw.
Nothing is left to chance until the moment the balls hit the tumbler.
A 38-year legacy
The very first televised Lotto draw was broadcast on August 1, 1987.
Studio floor manager Lindsay Benbrook was there from day one and said he still buys a ticket for the draw each week.
“I look forward to it. Especially when it’s getting up to the big Powerball numbers,” he said.
He recalled on an iconic Lotto landmark many Kiwis may remember – the Lotto winning wheel, where winners could come into the studio itself and spin for a chance to win prize money.
The winning wheel has since been replaced by the current machines seen on the show today, which Benbrook said were introduced around four years ago.
After decades of protecting the precious balls, he was finally given one to keep – a ball from one of the original Lotto machines.
He confirmed what Barry had suspected: they’re heavier than you’d think. And yes, they bounce.
Abort drills and airtight protocols
Every Lotto draw is overseen by TVNZ’s production crew and scrutineers from Audit New Zealand, who monitor every action to ensure fairness and accuracy.
If a machine switches off, fails to select a ball, or a presenter accidentally knocks something – anything that could threaten the integrity of the draw – the entire thing is stopped.
The draw is then repeated off-air under audit scrutiny. These “abort drills” are practised monthly, similar to a fire drill, to make sure the system works under pressure.
Steven Walker from Audit New Zealand described the operation as a “well-oiled machine” and said there is a lot that happens leading up to the live draw.
Barry jokingly asked whether being behind the scenes gave her an edge for last night’s draw.
“I’m sure many New Zealanders would love to figure it out, but I’m pretty certain there is no way to do it,” Walker said.
“The controls that are in place make it impossible to do, and that’s what we want New Zealanders to feel.”
Even Lotto Presenter Sonia Gray isn’t exempt from the protocol. Every number she calls is monitored in real time against graphics and audit checks.
Gray celebrated 20 years as Lotto’s presenter this month, jokingly dubbing the date as her “balls-anniversary”.
But as to where the precious balls are kept? The Lotto team wouldn’t say, not even to Barry herself, despite her asking.
“It’s a secret…. within TVNZ somewhere,” crew member Robbie said. “But I can’t say exactly where.”
