A Bay of Plenty man whose drink-driving killed a woman told Tauranga District Court today the accident would haunt him for life.
Judge Louis Bidois jailed 30-year-old barman Roy Tautahi Nathan, of Katikati, 36km northwest of Tauranga, for 18 months.
He disqualified him from driving for two years.
Nathan appeared for sentence after pleading guilty in January to driving with excess alcohol causing the death of 57-year-old nurse Jeannetta Van Heuckelum last September.
"This has been a lesson no-one should have to learn," he said from the dock.
The public gallery in courtroom one was packed with family and friends of Mrs Heuckelum on one side and those of Nathan on the other.
There were tears in both camps as bereaved husband Bert Van Heuckelum, 57, read his victim impact statement to the court.
Alongside him stood his two sons and weeping daughter as he spoke of growing up in the same small village as "Netty" in Holland and knowing her since they were both at kindergarten.
Married and settled in New Zealand, the couple's "passion" was their olive orchard near Katikati where they planted their first trees in 2000.
"This was the sort of lifestyle we came to New Zealand for."
The pair was starting to see a time when they would not have to work as hard - from 7am until midnight at their busiest, Mr Van Heuckelum said.
"Netty" was also devoted to her nursing, which provided a back-up income for the family.
"She loved working with people. She touched so many lives," her husband said as he struggled to control his emotions.
Last year, the Van Heuckelums talked of taking three weeks off for a tour of the South Island.
Then, early on September 28, Mr Van Heuckelum had a phone call from Tauranga Hospital saying his wife had not arrived for work.
At 7.30am he came across a road crash and recognised her car. A local policeman at the scene knew him.
"He told me she had died. I felt totally empty."
His wife of 32 years and lifelong friend had gone and he had to go back home and tell his children their mother was dead, he said.
"When will people get the message not to drink and drive?"
Directing his attention to Nathan, who turned to face him squarely, Mr Van Heuckelum said: "I hope this never happens to you."
Addressing his victim's family, Nathan said he had faced a whirlwind of emotion, great remorse, pain and grief.
He apologised for causing their loss and thanked his own family and friends for standing by him.
Judge Bidois told Nathan that his actions would not only live with him for the rest of his days, but with his victim's family too.
"You have taken away a wonderful mother, a wonderful wife, a devoted employee and a very well-respected person, for life."
The judge acknowledged that Nathan had accepted jail was inevitable and would not seek to have his sentence converted to home detention.
A first offender, the 30-year-old had a distinguished early career in the Navy before returning to the family property at Katikati.
Heading home about 6.20am after a night out socialising, Nathan's car approached the crest of a slight rise in the road as Mrs Van Heuckelum was coming the other way.
She was in the left lane with a passing lane on her right and his vehicle crossed both the centre line and the passing lane to plough head-on into her car, said Judge Bidois.
