A Northland teen who stabbed a driver to death while attempting a carjacking - has been jailed for five years and 10 months

The 16-year-old with name suppression has been sentenced in the Whangarei High Court today, after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Michael John Biggins.

Aged 15, the teen and another boy asked Biggins for a lift.

It's believed he threatened Biggins with a knife - asking him to hand over his keys.

Biggins refused -- and was stabbed - and was subsequently found dead in his car by Okaihau residents after it hit a tree.

He'd been stabbed twice, and a knife in the car had the teen's DNA on it.