A Wānaka man who killed Royalburn Station's head butcher in a head on crash has been sentenced to three years and eleven months in prison in the Invercargill High Court.

Hayden Richard Hurst, 29, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after he hit Outrega Anderson's car on State Highway 6 near Gibbston in December last year.

Justice Lisa Preston said when Hurst got behind the wheel that morning, his blood alcohol level of 131mg was more than double the legal limit, he had over twice the high risk legal limit of MDMA in his system, and he wasn't wearing corrective lenses.

It was the morning after his work Christmas party in Queenstown. His employer had booked accommodation, but Hurst decided to drive to his home in Wānaka.

He drove recklessly and dangerously for half an hour before the fatal crash, veering into oncoming traffic and forcing some drivers to leave the road to avoid a head on collision, Preston said.

Hurst was also disqualified from driving for four years after release and ordered to pay Anderson's family $10,000 in emotional harm reparation.

In a victim impact statement, Anderson's family said it was a senseless act that left them with a true life sentence, with overwhelming and unbearable grief some days.

The effects of his sudden death was catastrophic made even more upsetting by his mum's alzheimer's preventing her from being able to properly grieve her son, they said.

One of his nephews had anxiety and feared another of his loved ones would die in a car crash, they said.

They describe Anderson as a beautiful, kind and compassionate soul, with a talent for art and burgeoning career.

His workmates described him as a rock of Royalburn Station, saying his death had left them heartbroken and with a gaping hole in their lives.

They challenged Hurst to ensure he made every effort to become a better man, to never drive while intoxicated again and help others to learn from his mistakes.

Justice Lisa Preston said their victim impact statements spoke of a kind, beloved and highly respected man whose life was cut far too short.

PHOTO: RNZ / Tess Brunton