The couple were given a due date of two weeks ago, December 12. However, son Dante Middlemass was born at 7.37am yesterday, weighing in at 3.75kg (8lb 4oz).
The Queenstown couple planned to have a home birth in Alexandra, but came to Dunedin to be induced on December 23.
Mr Middlemass said he was completely surprised but Dante was the best Christmas gift.
"I did think we were well clear of the Christmas baby threat but it is very special."
Mr Middlemass said Dante was named after the couple’s favourite poet and the pronunciation of the name worked well in both English and Korean.
Mr Middlemass said Dante was 53cm long and was "a giant baby."
"The nurse said he was one of the longest babies ever."
Mr Middlemass said he initially thought of the negatives of having a baby born at Christmas.
"I thought about how he would want to invite friends to a birthday party and they might be away or with relatives.
"‘But I realised that won’t be too difficult to get around.
"However we end up doing it, there will be lots of presents involved."
Mr Middlemass said he hoped his son would be the next big golfing star.
"He’ll be famous — first the newspaper, second the New Zealand Open."
One of the first Christmas babies in the country was Tanga Webster, who decided to arrive earlier than his December 28 due date.
His mum Toni Paul, of Dunedin, said Tanga was a ‘‘great present’’ for her and his dad, Isaac Webster.
Tanga was born in Dunedin at 2am, weighing 3.37kg (7lb 6oz).
