"I can't bring Stephanie back - I can't make up for her death. Nothing I can say or do today will adequately address the loss of a young life, all I can do is bring about closure to one aspect of this awful situation.
"The action [Tamaki] took by getting behind the wheel on October 14 after suffering his own personal tragedy with his mother dying a few days prior has shattered the lives of Mrs McHale's family."
Tamaki's lawyer Wiremu Te Are said the consequences of Tamaki's actions were life-long.
"[Tamaki] is wholeheartedly remorseful that his choice to drive led to the death of Mrs McHale and the injury of his brother. He knows any sentence will fall short and shares the desire of all to go back to that day and remove himself from the wheel.
"He is heartbroken he has destroyed a family through his actions."
Mrs McHale's family, including her husband Ben and infant son Gareth, were in court for the sentencing. Her mother read her victim impact statement to the court, though the contents have been suppressed.
Judge MacKenzie said it was clear from the statement provided by Tamaki's brother Brian, that the crash had caused a family rift.
"As well as being physically injured, your brother has been hurt emotionally and did not believe you had taken responsibility. The crash has had a terrible impact on him as he feels a sense of shame it was a member of his family who has wreaked havoc on another family."
Tamaki had earlier pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death and careless driving causing injury.
Mrs McHale, 29, died in the crash on State Highway 5 south of Rotorua last October.
It was revealed in court today Tamaki had been attending the tangi and funeral of his mother in the days leading up to the crash, and that fatigue, leading to Tamaki falling asleep at the wheel, was the likely cause of the crash.
Tamaki was driving a Mitsubishi Utility towing a single axle trailer into Rotorua from his Minginui home to buy timber to build a deck. His brother was asleep.
About 3pm Tamaki approached the entrance to the city heading north at Hemo Gorge. As he was about to enter a slight left-hand curve he failed to take the curve going straight across the centre line into the opposite lane. He had not braked or attempted to avoid a collision, the summary stated.
He was seriously injured, while his brother sustained abrasions, lacerations and a sprained neck and upper back.
Mrs McHale was a physiotherapist, active in several local sporting clubs, including as vice-president of the Rotorua Association of Triathletes and Multisport.
