"I am very satisfied with the sentence in China of 15 years,'' she told NZPA.
She told NZPA said neither she nor the family wanted the death sentence.
But a lengthy jail sentence or the death penalty would not bring her husband back.
"He (Zhen) has given us our life sentence.''
Yesterday's sentence would now give the family the chance to move on.
"I would like to thank everyone who has supported us.''
Chinese authorities and the New Zealand police had "done a magnificent job for us,'' she said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones, who led the murder inquiry in Auckland and travelled to China for the trial, said the verdict was no surprise.
He said the evidence was "compelling.
"The prosecution process has been intriguing and is a testament to international co-operation.''
Zhen's trial before a panel of judges in Shanghai's Second Intermediate Court lasted only a few hours because there were no prosecution witnesses, just hand-up evidence from New Zealand police which had been translated into Mandarin.
The court said Zhen's remorse for the murder was a reason for not imposing a harsher sentence.
Zhen told the court he had not meant to kill Mr Mohini.
His aunt, Li Liping, said he deserved the jail term and the family had failed to bring him up properly.
She was in tears as she said the family would probably not appeal the sentence and they felt they could now look Mr Mohini's family in the face.
- NZPA