An Auckland man's been jailed for eight-and-a-half years for attempting to murder his estranged wife at a McDonald's

Mitesh Kumar lured his wife to the fast-food outlet and slashed her throat, in January.

They'd been married for 18 years - but separated for almost one.

Justice Campbell says the premeditation, extreme unprovoked violence and use of a lethal weapon required the upper end of sentencing.

The sentence included discounts for a guilty plea and previous good behaviour.