$1m Lotto win bonus with a baby on way

On Friday, Auckland couple Olivia and Brent were struck by the overwhelming joy and financial worry of finding out they were having a baby.

On Sunday, they won $1 million.

Their winning ticket, for a Lotto Christmas promotion, was bought two weeks ago and had travelled in Olivia's wallet through summer excursions.

It was plunged in water and had to be dried out, and was driven around to barbecues.

But it was safe and intact when the winners were finally announced - and Olivia saw that they had won.

"I couldn't breathe," she said.

"We have to work really hard, and Brent's always saying, 'I wish we could win Lotto', so that it's not so hard.

"With the baby, I was thinking, 'How long can I take off work'? I was thinking only three months - we can't survive on one wage."

Now she might take off a year for the baby, Olivia said.

They would buy a first house outright, and take up previous plans to go to America for Olivia's father's 65th birthday - plans that had been seeming unlikely with the baby news.

Olivia and Brent spoke to the Herald from Wellington after flying south to visit the Lotteries Commission headquarters yesterday.

"There's too many zeroes," Brent said. "In a good way."

Olivia said Brent had become teary-eyed when they found out they had won.

"He was saying, 'Don't lie'.

"I can't wipe the smile off my face."

The couple's ticket was bought at Manuroa Superette, in Takanini.

Olivia said she bought tickets every week. "I always say, 'If you don't try, it'll never happen'."

Meanwhile, the holiday promotion's second $1 million top prize has yet to be claimed. The winning ticket was sold at Smart Superette, in Mt Smart Rd, Onehunga.