The grandfather of a Reporoa boy shot and killed in a hunting accident has been convicted and sentenced for the fatal shooting.

Brian Phillips, 67, was sentenced to four months community detention in Taupo District Court on Tuesday morning, his lawyer Denise Johnston says.

11-year-old Connor Brian Phillips died on October 11 this year after he was shot in Kaingaroa Forest. Photo: Supplied.

He previously pleaded guilty to careless use of a firearm causing the death of his 11-year-old grandson Connor Phillips in a hunting incident in the Kaingaroa Forest, near Taupo, earlier this year.

Connor had gone hunting with a group of adults and other youngsters in a remote part of the forest - less than 20 kilometres from his home in the small settlement of Reporoa, on October 11.

As the hunt came to an end at about 1.30pm on the last day of school holidays, Phillips was unloading a firearm when the incident occurred, according to police.

Phillips' lawyer applied for a discharge without conviction for her client.

But Judge Snell said 'he wasn't satisfied that the direct and indirect consequence outweighed all proportion to the gravity of the offence”, says Denise.

'The offending falls in the lower-middle range – the key rule of using firearms is they must always be pointed in a safe direction. With five children in the area, extra care should have been taken.”

In an affidavit read by Denise in court, Phillips says: 'No punishment could measure the grief and guilt I impose on myself everyday.

'I wish it was me. I was meant to go before my grandchildren. It is a heavy burden I carry every day. It is a life sentence.”

Phillips is struggling to live with what happened to such an 'awesome” young boy.

'He had a great future ahead of him. He was a junior hunter following in my steps and would have taken over leading the pack.”

Connor's parents, Justin and Olivia Phillips, were not present at the sentencing but in a statement read in court said they had forgiven Phillips.

'Brian is a kind, caring grandfather, father, father-in-law and brother who always put others first especially his pride and joy - his 10 grandchildren.”

Connor's mother said afterwards that there was nothing she could say to bring her boy back so she did not want to comment further.

After sentencing Johnston said she did not have permission from the family to comment on the outcome of the case.