Winner of $6.8m yet to claim prize

Ohakune is buzzing with news that a multi-millionaire could be living in their midst.

An Ohakune Lotto player won $6.8 million in Saturday's draw - but the winner hasn't yet come forward to claim the prize.

The winning ticket was sold at Take Note Ohakune. Manager Raylene Deadman said customers coming into the shop this week had been talking about who the winner might be.

"There's quite a few rumours, but no-one knows anything for sure."

Mrs Deadman said there was a possibility someone from out of town could have bought the ticket while passing through Ohakune, or while on holiday.

"We're all quite excited about the person coming in to claim their prize," she said.

Lotto New Zealand held information about the exact time the ticket was sold, and if the prize wasn't claimed over time they would try to track the person using that information, Mrs Deadman said.

She said Take Note Ohakune's previous biggest prize was $1 million on the Winning Wheel.

This is the second major Powerball prize to be won this year, and the largest prize ever to be won in Ohakune.

Saturday was a good day for Lotto players in the Waimarino. Another player from Raetihi was the joint winner of Strike Four, winning $200,000.

Lotto New Zealand is urging anyone who purchased their ticket from Take Note Ohakune to write their name on the back of the ticket and check it immediately at any Lotto outlet, online at MyLotto.co.nz or through Lotto NZ's ticket-checker app.