In a sense, that made any further penalty by the courts meaningless, he told Murray David Anderson (42), employed, who was appearing for sentencing on a charge of careless driving causing the death of Natalie Joy Anderson on September 5, last year.
Anderson admitted the charge and was fined $1000, court costs $130 and disqualified from driving for nine months.
His wife was a pillion passenger on the 1100cc Yamaha Virago motorcycle he had borrowed to ride in a motorcycle rally.
The defendant had a motorcycle learner licence.
Such a licence did not legally allow Anderson to ride a motorcycle larger than 250cc, exceed 70kmh on an open road, or carry a passenger.
The couple were riding towards Makarora when the motorcycle failed to negotiate the corner and they were thrown from the machine.
Mrs Anderson suffered a fatal head injury.
Police prosecutor Tim Hambleton said the consequences of the crash were far greater than any sentence that could be imposed.
The couple's two children, Matthew (16) and Ashleigh (19), read their victim impact reports to the court.
"The last thing we [Matt and I] want is to lose our dad too," Miss Anderson said.
"To be honest, there is nothing further that can be done to him that would cause as much physical and emotional pain as him losing his soul mate and our mother.
"I don't believe anyone can know that pain until they have really walked in his shoes, and from my point of view, I wouldn't wish that on anyone."
Her father would never do anything intentionally to cause harm to her mother and the tragic accident had been devastating for all of them, she said.
"It's hard, knowing that as I grow up and make my footsteps in the world, that mum will no longer be there to help me through the tough times, tell me how proud she is at my graduation, help me get ready at my wedding or spoil any children in the future."
Judge Macdonald said the depth of emotion was obvious in all the victim impact reports and it was important to make a distinction between the pain, loss and anguish felt by the family and the punishment by the court.
"The penalty cannot and must not be equated to the value of the life lost," he said.
The defendant had accepted responsibility for the accident by pleading guilty to the charge.
He had taken the corner too quickly and made an error of judgement, which had terrible consequences.
Judge Macdonald assumed Mrs Anderson was aware her husband had a learner's licence so she was aware of the risk that might be involved.
Anderson's character references were impressive, he contributed to the community by being part of several community and service groups and the offending was out of character, Judge Macdonald said.
About 20 people were in the public gallery to support Anderson when he appeared in court.
Defence counsel Kieran Tohill said if Anderson could turn the clock back, he would.
It was ironic the couple were taking part in a memorial rally to remember Anderson's brother and father, who were killed in a plane crash.
The defendant had no explanation for how the motorcycle accident happened and his speed was not excessive.
Mrs Anderson's sister, Rennae Flockton, read out victim impact statements from herself, her mother Joy Flockton and her sister Lee Anne Flockton.
Mrs Flockton said she felt her daughter's death was needless and had the defendant obeyed the conditions of his motorcycle licence, her daughter would still be alive.
Lee Anne Flockton spoke about how her sister's death had shattered the family and how she was irreplaceable.
Rennae Flockton said she blamed the defendant for her sister's death and could not forgive him.
"Murray killed my sister Natalie on September 5.
He rode a motorbike - not just any motorbike but a borrowed bike that he couldn't ride and didn't have a licence for," she said.
"As if it weren't hard enough to lose a sister, I now have to watch my family struggle as they come to terms with what Murray has done."
