Tane Roderick died when a Toyota Hiace van, driven by Austrian kindergarten teacher Melanie Giesinger (28) , turned into his path last Thursday morning.
Ms Giesinger appeared before the Dunedin District Court on Friday, where she pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing the death of the 42-year-old Auckland man.
Mr Roderick’s mother, Sally Wast, of Invercargill, said "no parent wants their child to go before them".
"Tane grew up a typical teenager and did all of the things that horrified his parents.
"He was a carpenter and loved what he did, but moved into more advisory roles and was very good at what he did."
He had many friends and loved life, she said.
"Just over a year ago he found the love of his life and he had just celebrated his first wedding anniversary."
She wanted tougher rules for tourists driving in New Zealand.
"I have had the angry phase and now I am in the phase that something has to be done about tourists and the crashes they cause in this country."
Community Magistrate Simon Heale said Giesinger might eventually be sentenced in Auckland, given she was leaving from there and it might be a more convenient location for Mr Roderick’s family for a restorative justice conference to be held.
Giesinger will appear in the Dunedin District Court this week for that to be determined.
