He was sentenced to 200 hours community work, 12 months supervision and 12 months disqualification.
Two restorative justice conferences were held prior to sentencing, giving Rolleston the opportunity to apologise to Maxwell and Maxwell's family.
The report says Rolleston was emotional when making the apology. He said he didn't remember the accident, he remembered the day before.
When told about the crash, he asked if he was driving and asked if Kaleb was still alive. "Destroyed me, that's how much he meant to me, mates from day one."
Maxwell, the report says, talked about what he and Rolleston had been doing prior to the crash and went on to describe the car they were in sliding across the road and hitting the bridge.
"I woke up and I was lying on the boot of the car. I climbed out, and found my wallet on the ground, I picked it up and put it in my pocket. I was looking for my shoes, my feet were cold. I went back to the car ... James was asleep. I shook him, couldn't wake him."
Later in the report Maxwell described the accident as a blessing in disguise.
"If it hadn't happened, would I be where I am now? I'm healing, I have a good job, family support and it's easier to get into rugby in Australia [laughing]."
When asked about sentencing, Maxwell said he hoped the judge would consider the dramatic changes to Rolleston's life, and what he had been through emotionally and physically, and what he would continue to go through.
BOY LIVING AS A MAN
At the conference, whanau spoke about the busy life Rolleston used to live. The report says he started living in an adult world after Boy. The film industry took him out of school and he was away for months at a time.
They spoke about the milestone gaps they noticed when James was around his friends and how he did not develop like them.
"They all had girlfriends before James. James was away living in hotels in Germany and other places. However, he would travel home to Opotiki whenever he could to hunt, fish and to be one of the boys."
Christine, Rolleston's Nan, told the conference he had been tired in the lead up to the accident.
"James had auditions and the premiere the night before he came home. He was rushing to see the boys. I believe he was exhausted which influenced the outcome. He hurt his buddy Kaleb and that has been the hardest thing for James."
A documentary team has been following Rolleston's progress since the crash. The purpose of the documentary, according to Rolleston, was for him to get a message out to others, especially young people, about risks on the road and the consequences of one's actions.
Maxwell was involved in the documentary.
"What we went through, we were lucky, and people can relate to that," he said in the report.
Maxwell's mother Erica told the conference it was never about forgiveness, as there was never anything to forgive.
"It could have been Kaleb driving, aroha for both of them, aroha flows, doesn't stop and start."
The report writer said the hui ended with karakia and whanau embracing one another before they all left the venue to have a shared lunch in Whakatane.
TODAY'S SENTENCING
James Rolleston has used what happened to him on the night of July 26, 2016, as an example for other young people to learn from.
Rolleston, who was 19 at the time, was driving on SH 35 toward Opotiki when he lost control of the car and crashed into the Otara Bridge. He suffered severe leg and head injuries while his passenger Kaleb Maxwell suffered kidney and spinal injuries.
As a result Rolleston was charged with dangerous driving causing injury.
In court today, his lawyer Ron Mansfield said since the crash Rolleston had shown genuine remorse, accepted his actions by pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, and learned the importance of road safety compliance and taken it upon himself to teach others of that importance.
He asked for community work coupled with a disqualification and supervision.
Police prosecutor Ian Dodds agreed a sentence of community work was appropriate but also drew the court's attention to the "Fatal Five" factors recognised in fatal crashes - speed, alcohol/drugs, restraints, dangerous/careless driving and high-risk drivers.
He submitted Rolleston's speed was excessive, his driving was dangerous and he fell into the category of high-risk drivers solely due to his age.
Judge Louis Bidois said there was no doubt Rolleston was lucky to be alive.
"You are to be given significant credit for what you have undertaken toward educating others since the crash," Judge Bidois said.
"You are a young man who has achieved much in your acting career and you are a young man with huge potential but, at the end of the day, you are still young and young men make poor decisions around driving."
Bidois highlighted Rolleston's probation report which said he was yet to address the impact the crash would have on him.
"There needs to be some sort of supervision order because, I have no doubt, there are going to be some dark days ahead for you."
