The father of a Lower Hutt man who was shot dead last year says he has forgiven his son's killers and has asked they remain free.
Shane Harrison, 44, and Dillin Pakai, 20, were found guilty by a jury in September of murdering Lower Hutt man Sio Matalasi and reckless discharge of a firearm.
In the High Court at Wellington this morning, Justice Jillian Mallon sentenced Pakai to life in prison for murder with a minimum non-parole period of 12 years and three months.
Harrison was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 13 years.
At today's sentencing Mr Matalasi's father, Lafeta Matalasi, read a victim impact statement to the court.