An American tourist who admitted killing two Northland women in a car crash has been convicted and will pay reparation of $24,200 to the victims' families.

Thomas James Springer, 66, appeared for sentencing in the Kaikohe District Court today.

Springer earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of careless driving causing the deaths of 29-year-old Ahipara woman Kylee Anne Rakich, who was eight months' pregnant with a daughter, and 44-year-old Whangarei woman Virginia Keogh. He also admitted a charge of driving causing injury of the 21-year-old man who was driving the car carrying the two women.

The maximum penalty for the offences is three months' jail and/or a fine.

The five-year-old daughter of Rakich was also injured in the crash on State Highway 10 at Puketona on April 30.

The retired Californian businessman and his wife had been in the Bay of Islands for a short holiday when he drove their rental car into an oncoming car on SH10.

Springer was today convicted on the three charges and offered to pay a total of $24,200 to the families, with $20,000 paid into the court today.

He was not ordered to pay any fines, given the level of reparation, but was disqualified from driving for 18 months on each of the charges.

Springer's lawyer Michael Dodds had told the court his client had a brain tumour and needed to be back in the United States for treatment.