A nice $4m Lotto surprise

Here's a lesson in never throwing out those dockets and receipts crumpled in the bottom of your handbag without checking first: It could be a big winning ticket, as a Nelson woman discovered this week.

She is now $4 million richer after finally presenting the Lotto Powerball ticket she bought at the Stoke New World Supermarket a month earlier, and had been carrying around in her handbag.

The winning ticket was worth a total of $4 million, with $3 million from Powerball and $1 million from Lotto First Division.

The woman and her family were shocked by the big win, especially after she had "chucked the ticket" in her handbag with about four other old tickets.

"I even shed a few tears at the Lotto counter when the lady checked my old tickets and First Division winner flashed up. It was such a surprise," the woman said. Stoke New World owner-operator Peter Harman said staff were all very excited for the woman and her husband, who he described as a middle-aged Nelson couple.

"I got called straight away. The lady was obviously pleased, shocked and surprised. Talking to them a bit later, they are still coming to terms with the win," Mr Harman said.It was the third first division Lotto ticket and first Powerball winning ticket sold at the store.

The family now plans to upgrade their house and do some travelling. They also want to help out family members.

The woman said it was perhaps time to upgrade her "battered" old handbag.

NZ Lotteries chief executive Todd McLeay says it was very unusual to have a big winner claim this long after a major prize was won.