Young couple from Hibiscus Coast claim $44m Lotto win

A young Auckland couple have claimed the record-breaking $44 million Lotto prize, Lotto NZ has confirmed.

The couple, from the Hibiscus Coast, presented their ticket in Manly today.

The pair want to remain anonymous, Lotto spokeswoman Kirsten Robinson said.

Earlier today the owner of Manly Price Cutter in Whangaparaoa today told the Herald a man walked into the store this morning and presented the winning ticket.

Nishchal Pandya who owns the Dairy Flat Food Mart and Liquor store where the ticket sold as well as the one where the ticket was allegedly presented said: "I just got a call from my other store the prize has been claimed from there."

Pandya said he was so excited when he found out about his shop's first big win and hoped a local was the lucky winner.

"I didn't have any words. I was very excited. I can't think what I should do.

"I hope it's someone from our community."

He has bought a bottle of Champagne to celebrate with the winner.