The medal is still in New Zealand and owned by a family member who says it will never be sold because of its importance to the family and New Zealand. Sgt Brown served and died during World War 1.
Sgt Brown's great-niece, Trudi Bryant, of Wellington, had been searching for the medal and sought help through the Otago Daily Times which yesterday published a report of the missing VC. Ms Bryant feared it had gone overseas into a private collection.
North Otago historian Lindsay Malcolm contacted the ODT yesterday and said the medal was held by a descendant of Sgt Brown.
When contacted, the relative confirmed he had the medal, but did not want to be named for security reasons.
The VC had been lent to Waitaki Boys' High School to display during a special Anzac service in the mid 1980s, as well as to the National War Museum at Waiouru.
After contact from family members about the medal, the medal-holder was planning a commemorative reunion of relatives of Sgt Brown.
