Wednesday's Lotto winners yet to claim their $19.1 million prizes

The two Lotto players who split Wednesday's $38 million Powerball prize are yet to claim their winnings.

Each winner will get $19.1 million when they come forward.

The lucky tickets were sold at New World Warkworth and Fresh Choice Greytown.

The two small North Island communities were buzzing on Thursday as people rushed to check their tickets.

A steady stream of hopefuls, ticket in hand, turned up at Greytown's Fresh Choice soon after it opened at 7am hoping they would come out a millionaire - but none had so far.

The winning numbers were 12, 8, 5, 36, 28 and 18. The bonus ball was 40 and the Powerball 5.

Had the big jackpot gone to a single winner, Lotto says it would have been the second-largest Powerball prize won in New Zealand.

Last November, a young Hibiscus Coast couple won $44 million with Powerball, Lotto NZ said.

They said they'd caught up with the winners "to find out how a year in the life of a Powerball winner has been and to pass on advice" to anyone who won a big amount.

"The winner agreed that a large win can seem overwhelming at first, and in the first few weeks," Lotto NZ said.

"Don't have a heart attack," laughed the winner.

"'And try to remember to eat and sleep in the first few weeks."

The couple credited solid financial advice for helping them navigate their first year as multi-millionaires, Lotto said.

"I recommend getting a really good financial adviser – someone who is on the same wavelength as you," the winner told Lotto.

"They can help you map out a good idea of what you want to achieve with your winnings, including gifts, investing for the future, and just making sure the money will last."

Is it time for that dream home?

If Wednesday's lucky winners were in a hurry to spend there are a few options to make a small dent in the massive windfall.

Listed on Trade Me for just under $2m you could move into a spacious country home on the outskirts of Greytown, in an idyllic setting boasting spectacular views overlooking the Tararua Ranges.

Meadowview is described as the best of both worlds combining traditional colonial classic charm with modern construction and even comes with its own sentinel lion statues in its quiet rural setting.

For those who want to splash out up north there's land flanking pristine coastal Northland waters at Bream Bay.

Or if the winners didn't want to build, an award-winning home commanding spectacular views overlooking the Kaipara Harbour is also up for grabs.

The stunning five-bedroom, three bathroom South Head rural property boasts plenty of room for family and guests as well as large gardens, grazing paddocks and bush.

And as summer draws near there is a newly laid tennis court and swimming pool to enjoy the coming months.