$500,000 Lotto First Division Prize Unclaimed Almost Four Months On

Somewhere out there is a Lotto player whose year started with sun, sea, surf and a $500k First Division Lotto win… they just don’t know about the last part yet.

The winning $500,000 ticket was bought at Fresh Choice Pāpāmoa in the Bay of Plenty for the draw on New Years Day, Wednesday 1 January 2025.

Will Hine, Head of Corporate Communications at Lotto NZ, says the ticket could be anywhere.

“We’re urging players who may have bought a ticket in Pāpāmoa over the holidays to check it as soon as possible.

“The ticket could have been bought by a local, or maybe by someone visiting Pāpāmoa to see in the new year.”

Hine says Lotto NZ is hoping to unite the winner with their prize soon, and wonders what their story will be.

“It’s a life-changing amount of money, and we want to make sure the winner claims what’s rightfully theirs sooner rather than later.

“I’m imagining a family on a summer getaway, enjoying days on the beach… maybe they popped into Fresh Choice to grab something for a barbecue back at the bach and picked up a ticket while they were there, tucking it away and forgetting all about it.”

“I’m looking forward to hearing their actual story once they claim,” says Hine.

Anyone who bought their ticket from Fresh Choice Pāpāmoa in Pāpāmoa for the draw on Wednesday 1 January 2025 should write their name on the back of the ticket and check it as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLottoApp.

Notes:

• In Wednesday 1 January’s Lotto draw, two lucky players shared the $1 million First Division jackpot, each taking home $500,000.
• The other winning ticket was sold at Mirrabooka Superette in Auckland, and this prize has been claimed.
• Winners have 12 months from draw day to claim their prize.
• In December, Lotto NZ issued a media release looking for the winner of a $200,000 Lotto First Division prize that was sold by Coastlands Lotto in Paraparaumu. This prize is still unclaimed.

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