Kane Douglas Fox, 32, was sentenced to eight months’ home detention over the incident when he appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.
Judge Michael Turner said he had heard of a worrying creed among wool workers: "work hard, drink harder".
"It would explain why so many shearers are appearing before the court on alcohol-related offending. If that is the attitude, that needs to change," he said.
Counsel Andrew Dawson said his client had since sworn off booze and was transported around work sites in an alcohol-free van.
On August 25 last year, Fox was drinking with the 26-year-old victim through the afternoon and into the evening.
When they arrived at the victim’s Owaka home a dispute erupted in the driveway.
Fox’s colleague said he "saw red" and punched the defendant in the head repeatedly.
A bloodied Fox sought refuge at a neighbouring address and was tended to by the residents until his boss arrived to give him a ride home.
During the drive, the defendant threatened to stab the victim and his mother but the comments were not taken seriously.
Fox, though, was intent on revenge and returned to the victim’s home with a knife.
The man met him at the front door and shoved his head through a window before they resumed brawling again.
When the pair tripped over a wheelie bin, the victim felt a sharp pain in his side.
Fox had stabbed him in the hip and knee — but the fight continued. When the violence finally ceased, the victim’s mother yelled at the defendant to leave.
As she ushered Fox towards the gate, he spat at her, the saliva "landing all over her face", court documents said.
The victim was rushed to Dunedin Hospital by helicopter as medics feared he had a punctured bowel.
That was not the case but the man’s mother spoke about the devastating changes to their lives in the past 15 months.
She said the incident "mentally, emotionally and physically wrecked me".
It had also impacted her relationship with her son, the woman said.
"I feel like I’m living with a stranger," she told the court.
"I feel like I’ve lost everything."
Counsel Andrew Dawson said Fox spent more than two months behind bars when he was initially charged and had then endured restrictive bail conditions for the past year.
With employment and a motivation to improve his behaviour, his prospects of rehabilitation were good, he argued.
Fox was convicted of wounding with reckless disregard, assault and aggravated drink-driving from nine days before the stabbing.
As well as the home-detention term, he was banned from driving for a year and a day.
