A winning $500,000 Lotto ticket remains unclaimed after almost four months.

The ticket was bought at Fresh Choice Pāpāmoa for the draw on New Year’s Day.

Lotto NZ head of corporate communications Will Hine said the ticket could be anywhere.

“We’re urging players who may have bought a ticket in Pāpāmoa over the holidays to check it as soon as possible.

“The ticket could have been bought by a local, or maybe by someone visiting Pāpāmoa to see in the New Year.”

Lotto NZ was hoping to unite the winner with their prize soon, and wondered what their story would be, he said.

“It’s a life-changing amount of money, and we want to make sure the winner claims what’s rightfully theirs sooner rather than later.

“I’m imagining a family on a summer getaway, enjoying days on the beach… maybe they popped into Fresh Choice to grab something for a barbecue back at the bach and picked up a ticket while they were there, tucking it away and forgetting all about it.

“I’m looking forward to hearing their actual story once they claim.”

Anyone who thinks they might be holding the lucky ticket from the January 1 draw should write their name on the back of the ticket and check it as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App.