During the celebration, 50 to 60 guests were expected for a sit-down dinner and, although some were Black Power affiliates, it was not a gang function.
As Hawkins entered the court room, a supporter of a victim began to shout abuse at him before the man was silenced by the judge.
A victim impact statement was read by a social worker - on behalf of a victim - as Hawkins stood silently, guarded by two police officers. The victim said she had taken 15 weeks off work and was still "mentally preparing" to go back.
"The defendant is unknown to me, we are no relation to each other. He turned up unannounced and uninvited.
"Do you remember your 21st Mr Hawkins? I never want to remember mine."
Austin told the judge that Hawkins was now in paid employment thinning apples and said the victim impact statement had been read to him before today. "It had a deep effect on him, he expressed remorse," he said.
Judge Mackintosh addressed Hawkins saying that although he was part of a group of people involved in the attack a number of serious assaults occurred.
"We're so lucky nobody was killed, they should be ashamed of the way they behaved," she said.
"It could have been up to seven to eight years imprisonment if someone had been pinpointed for this - so it's very serious.
"In life you can go in two directions, you've been going one way but you need to go the other."
As Hawkins was escorted out of the room, a man hurled abuse at him before the family was asked to leave by the judge.
A second man involved, Tama Hawkins , received a sentence of 80 hours' community work at the Hastings District Court in November.
A third man, Jeffery Morunga , is due to be sentenced on January 30, 2019.
All three were charged with unlawful assembly, and had more serious charges dropped after police said they lacked evidence to prove who had committed acts of violence on the night.
