A New Zealand man jailed in Brisbane for 6½ years after punching another man in a road rage incident, who then fell backwards and was fatally hit by a truck, has lost an appeal against his sentence.

Tamate Henry Heke was convicted of unlawful striking causing death in February 2018 after punching Shane Merrigan in the head during an incident on the Gateway Motorway in December 2015.

Tamate Heke at the Supreme Court in Brisbane last year. Credit:AAP Image

Heke, a 36-year-old man with no criminal history, was driving home after work when Mr Merrigan, 50, overtook Heke’s car, and then began tailgating him.

The two men exchanged hand gestures before pulling over on the side of the road and getting out of their cars to continue the argument.