One lucky visitor to Tauranga's CBD won return flights to Rarotonga today, as part of a promotion run by Air New Zealand's grabaseat website.

A big crowd gathered outside the Tauranga Art Gallery at lunchtime to watch and take part in the Whirl-Win machine.

A queue of around 50 people were lined up along Wharf Street when SunLive visited this afternoon. They were waiting to take their chance inside the Whirl-Win machine – a plastic box full of green and gold confetti.

For 30 seconds, a constant stream of air was blown into the box, sending the confetti flying around the participant. They then had to find a piece of gold confetti among the green pieces (there were only a limited number of golds) and grab it, holding it up for the event coordinator to see.

Those who successfully grabbed a piece of gold confetti were then able to enter a lucky dip for instant prizes, including music vouchers and flights.

Around 100 people came through the machine, with at least one person winning big – a woman who walked away with return flights to Rarotonga.

The Whirl-Win machine will be heading to Gisborne next on Friday November 3.

People queuing for their chance to win.