A Wairoa woman has been sentenced to three and a half years jail for killing her mother during a drunken argument.

Anni Rangi has appeared at the High Court in Napier this morning.

The 52 year old has admitted the manslaughter of Aileen MacDonald at her Napier home in December last year.

The 70 year old was hit on the head five times and died in hospital three days later from blunt force trauma injuries.

During a disputed facts hearing, Rangi told the court she only hit her mother twice.

Annie Rangi says they had both been drinking and her mother egged her on and was lashing out with her fists so she acted in self defence.

Crown prosecutor Steve Manning says the victim was an elderly, frail and vulnerable person who should have been safe in her own home and posed no real threat to Rangi.