New Lotto multi-millionaire lying low

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A new multi-millionaire is carrying on with life as normal while their $13.8 million Lotto Powerball prize remains unclaimed from Saturday night.

The ticket was bought at Magazine City and Lotto on Auckland's North Shore, but so far no one has come forward to claim the prize or notify lottery organisers.

According to the Lotteries Commission, it is not uncommon for a big winner to wait a few days, however it is unusual that the winner of Saturday's fortune has not contacted the commission at all.

"They would normally phone us to make sure they have the winning ticket and get it into the system," spokeswoman Karen Jones said.

She told the Herald the winner was likely to be aware of their windfall but concerns about attracting unwanted attention might be stopping them from collecting the cash.

"What people want to do is choose how they tell people in their own time. It's quite a big decision whether they tell their friends and family ... people like to do that in a bit of peace and quiet."

The North Shore booty is the second unclaimed Lotto prize in the past month. A Hamilton ticket won $4.7 million, which remains unclaimed from the Big Wednesday first division draw on June 16.

Lotto prizes must be claimed within a year, or they disappear into a fund, which is used to top up future prizes.