KEY POINTS:
In less than a week an unclaimed Lotto first division prize will be rendered null and void.
The winning $500,000 ticket was purchased at Countdown Kaiapoi almost a year ago.
Despite a nationwide search, its lucky owner is yet to come forward.
New Zealand Lotteries chief executive Todd McLeary said: "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,"said Mr McLeary.
The missing ticket has drawn attention to the small Canterbury town.
Countdown's Lotto manager Lisa Coley said: "We've had a lot of people we've never seen come in to the store".
Ticket holders have 12 months from the date of the draw their ticket was entered into to claim their ticket. The $500,000 ticket must be claimed by Monday 30 June, 2008.
If the ticket holder does not come forward then this will be one of the largest unclaimed Lotto prizes.
In an average year up to three per cent of New Zealand Lotteries' prizes go unclaimed. They are used to supplement 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," said Mr McLeary.
