A couple who got a Lotto Powerball ticket at Waikanae Beach Four Square won the $15.6 million Lotto prize on Saturday, but said they would continue working.

New Zealand Lotteries' chief executive Todd McLeay told the NZ Herald the couple watched live as their numbers came up one by one, making them NZ Lotto's eighth-biggest prize ever.

The couple, who said they have been living week to week, did not know how they were going to get through Christmas being financially challenged. They did not usually watch Lotto but tuned in on Saturday, reports the Herald.

"It really is a miracle," one of the winners said.

The couple said the winnings will help their children and grandchildren, though they did not mention how many of them they have. They added they can finally buy their own house.

Still, they said they would continue on with their respective jobs, and would share their prize with charities.

"We're longtime believers that you've got to give to get, so we've already worked out which charities we're going to give some money to, make sure that they have a good Christmas as well," they told the Herald.