Huni Samson talks outside Dunedin District Court following the sentencing of Tamaoho Nuku.

A baby girl was left with horrific injuries after being shaken by a father distracted from playing video games.

Tamaoho Nuku, 31, appeared for sentencing before Judge Michael Crosbie in the Dunedin District Court on Thursday morning.

His former partner, Huni Samson, said in her victim impact statement that "everything changed" for the Palmerston couple and their 2-month-old baby on April 10 last year.

HAMISH McNEILLY/FAIRFAX NZ Tamaoho Nuku has been jailed for two years and three months after shaking his baby daughter, leaving her with life-long disabilities.

The court heard Nuku had his daughter sitting on his lap and was playing video games when he was seen shaking the baby girl.

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She was taken to Dunedin Hospital with traumatic brain injuries.

"She was assaulted by you, due to your action my daughter will not grow up a normal child," Samson told him in court.

"She will grow up knowing her dad has caused this damage, you have broken her in every possible way.

"She will now grow up having a disabled life."

Samson wiped away tears as she told the court Nuku's actions turned her into a suspect for "a crime I did not commit".

"I will never be able to trust anyone again.

"I will never trust you or anyone with my children for what you have done."

She had not been able to see her daughter for 12 months, and had limited supervised access with her other daughter.

The court heard the girl, now a 16-month-old toddler, had the developmental age of a 4-month-old baby.

She had regular seizures, was unable to walk, crawl, or sit-up.

She would have life-long disabilities from the head injuries she sustained.

Judge Crosbie said the paediatrician report was "very difficult to read".

"You moment of anger arising from her simply being next to you while you were gaming has defined her life."

"What will define your life Mr Nuku?"

Nuku was sentenced to jail for two years and three months for reckless disregard for the safety of the child, and six weeks for possessing an objectionable publication.

Samson, speaking outside court, said she was surprised at the length of sentence, given her daughter's life-long injuries.

"I am absolutely shocked. My daughter's whole life has changed for the rest of her life, and all he gets is two years and three months.

"I pray every day to see her again."