A man had not seen his sister for some time when he came across her working at a local hotel before punching her resulting in her breaking an ankle.
Jacob Henare had quite a few drinks at the bar of the premises and soon became violent.
"She went outside for a break, you followed her out, there was an argument and you had a swing at her," Judge Dugald Matheson said in Whanganui District Court.
"She responded and at that point you punched her with a forceful punch and that knocked her off her feet. As a result she received a sore shoulder and a broken ankle."
Henare appeared in the court for sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of male assaults female and injures with intent to injure with reckless disregard for which he was convicted.