Grave Lotto prize problem

Speculation is rife around Greymouth that a big winning Lotto ticket is six feet under in a local cemetery.

The New Zealand Lotteries Commission confirmed that someone bought a winning $250,000 ticket from Greymouth New World in the June 3 draw, and that it remained unclaimed.

The word around town was that the ticket went down with the casket in a recent funeral.

One West Coaster who works in the funeral industry said he knew of people being buried with Lotto tickets, cigarettes, lighters and teddy bears.

Greymouth Anglican Archdeacon Robin Kingston said "all sorts of things" were placed in the coffin with the body.

"But why in the world they would put in a ticket that couldn't be claimed, I can't begin to imagine?"

Lotto winners have one year to claim their prize and generally have to produce the ticket.

However, the Lotteries Commission said there was a disputed claims process if tickets were lost or destroyed.

- NZPA