A Week to Go For Missing Kaiapoi Lotto Ticket

Media Release
23 June 2008

A Week to Go For Missing Kaiapoi Lotto Ticket

Despite a nation-wide search, the $500,000 Lotto First Division ticket bought at Countdown Kaiapoi nearly a year ago is still unclaimed – and there's now just one week left to find it.

"It was all everyone in New Zealand seemed to be talking about a month ago when it was announced the ticket was unclaimed, so the ticket holder should have heard about it," says NZ Lotteries' Chief Executive Todd McLeay.

"We know of a few occasions where the winner has claimed their prize eventually after finding it stuck to a fridge behind a takeaway menu, stuffed in a drawer, or in their car glove box.

"So we recommend everyone has a big clean-out over the next day or two – but don't take too long!"

The missing First Division $500,000 ticket purchased at Countdown Kaiapoi, Canterbury, for the 30 June 2007 Lotto draw has created a lot attention for the small town.

"We've had a lot of people we've never seen come in to the store, and everyone seems to be wondering where the ticket is, and if it'll turn up," says Countdown Kaiapoi Lotto Manager, Lisa Coley.

Ticket holders have 12 months from the date of the draw their ticket was entered into to claim their ticket, so the $500,000 Lotto ticket must be claimed by Monday 30 June, 2008.

If the lucky ticket holder does not come forward in the next week, this would be the largest unclaimed Lotto prize for several years.

The largest unclaimed prize in recent times was a $3 million Lotto prize that was sold in Masterton in early 2003.

Up to three percent of NZ Lotteries' prizes are unclaimed in an average year. The unclaimed prizes are transferred to the prize reserve fund where they are used to fund jackpots and promotional prizes.

"Anyone who bought a ticket at this retailer last June should write their name on the back of the ticket and check it as soon as possible at any NZ Lotteries outlet," Mr McLeay says.

ENDS

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