Emotive victim impact statements reduced Alison Jennifer Barr to tears during her sentencing in the Whakatane District Court.
Barr, 52, of Awakeri, had earlier pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of Craig Finau on November 24 last year.
Judge Richard Watson sentenced Barr to 220 hours' community work, disqualified her
from driving for two years and six months and ordered her to pay $8000 to Mr Finau's family.
The first victim impact statement, written by Mr Finau's wife Roz, was read by his brother Antony.
Mrs Finau's statement said that on the day her husband died, he had come to Whakatane to have lunch with her.
"We shared a lovely hour, then before he left, I zipped up his jacket," Mrs Finau wrote.
"He asked me why I always [zipped his jacket] and I laughed and told him it was because I loved him and wanted him to be safe."
Mrs Finau went back to work. Later, while driving back to their home in Kawerau, Mr Finau swerved to avoid a car, driven by Barr, which had pulled out on to State Highway 30 in front of him.
Attempting to avoid an accident, Mr Finau was thrown from his Harley Davidson motorbike and collided with the car.
Mrs Finau said time had not made her husband's death any easier and she was just existing for the sake of the children. Mr Finau had two children from a previous relationship and two with her.
"My husband's first grandson was born two weeks after he died. He was so looking forward to meeting the baby."
Mrs Finau told Mrs Barr her moment's negligence had cost her and her husband a future, the children a father, their families a son and a brother, and the grandchildren a grandfather.
"Our plans, our dreams and our ambitions were ripped away from us in that second you failed to see Craig," Mrs Finau said.
Her husband's sister-in-law, Teresa, tried to read her statement but was overcome with emotion and it had to be read by her husband Antony.
From the dock, Barr faced the family while both statements were read, often with tears running down her face.
Judge Watson assessed Barr's level of carelessness as high, despite suggestions by her lawyer, Roger Gowing, it was at the lower end of the scale.
Judge Watson told the Finau family that there was nothing he could do, in respect of sentencing, that would alter the terrible and life-changing events of that day in November.
"You have lost a devoted husband, father, brother and son while Mrs Barr, I am sure, will also live with this for the rest of her life."
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