Instant Kiwi is celebrating the 30th anniversary of New Zealanders scratching, playing and winning its games.

In the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga, a total of 281 top prizes have been won.

Bayfair Lotto has had the greatest number of top prizes won – 42.

There was a $250K win in Ohope Four Square on the $10 20 x Money Multiplier ticket, and more recently, Countdown Whakatane had a $75K win on the $5 Road Trip ticket.

'For the past three decades, Instant Kiwi has been providing New Zealanders with a bit of fun and excitement –and of course, the chance to win,” says Claire Gutzewitz, Head of Instant Gamesfor Lotto NZ.

'We've heard so many great stories from our players over the years about how they love to play Instant Kiwi – from special rituals and winning moments, to creative ways of scratching and sharing the game with friends and family.

In celebration of the 30th anniversary, Instant Kiwi has launched three limited edition scratchie tickets that look back at some memorable Instant Kiwi moments over the past 30 years.

'Instant Kiwi's new limited edition scratchies are our way of celebrating this milestone with the players that have been on the journey with us –all the way back to Golden Kiwi.”

The new limited edition 30 Years Instant Kiwi tickets nod to both Instant Kiwi's heritage, as well as iconic elements from New Zealand pop culture, including: $1 Kiwi Treasures scratchies – Featuring six great ‘Kiwiana' designs celebrating New Zealand from Cape Reinga to the Bluff with five top prizes of $10,000.

$3 Golden Kiwi scratchie – Nods to Instant Kiwi's predecessor, Golden Kiwi , with three top prizes of $50,000.

$5 Gizza Kiwi Crossword – New Zealand's favourite word game, with the chance to win one of four top prizes of $75,000

'Instant Kiwi is celebrating three decades in New Zealand, but this milestone also marks a coming of age for a much-loved game that Kiwis love to play and win,” says Gutzewitz.

In honour of this anniversary, here are a few fun Instant Kiwi facts from the past 30 years

•Since 1989, more than $1.3 billion in prizes has been won by Instant Kiwi players around the country

•Like all Lotto NZ games, 100% of Instant Kiwi profits support good causes in communities all around the country.

• Of the 1,500 dairies, service stations, bookshops and supermarkets around the country that sell Instant Kiwi, ten special retailers have been a partner since day one in 1989.

These include stores in Auckland, Wairoa, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Upper Hutt, Gisborne, Dunedin, Timaru, Cromwell and Westport.

•An average of $2 million is won every week with Instant Kiwi.

•The first ever Instant Kiwi $1million top prize ticket was launched in 2018 giving players the chance to win $1million on a scratchie for the first time.

•Crosswords are New Zealanders' favourite Instant Kiwi game.