A Tauranga man who admitted to sexually assaulting and raping an 11-year-old girl has been sentenced to nine years and five months jail.

The 30-year-old man was sentenced by Judge Ian Thomas in Tauranga District Court to one count of male rapes female and two counts of unlawful sexual connection with a female under the age of 12.

A Tauranga man has been jailed after admitting to raping an 11-year-old girl.

The man has permanent name suppression to protect the identity of the girl.

During sentencing on Friday, Judge Thomas said the man essentially used the 11-year-old 'as a sexual play thing”.

'You went away, came back and did things to her, then went away again only to come back and do more things to her.

'This is serious offending using a girl as a play thing over the course of one night.”

The offending took place in Paengaroa on November 16 and 17, 2012.

A psychologist's report, which lawyer Craig Tuck asked for prior to sentencing, shows the man has a number of mental health issues, said Judge Thomas.

'It is now your [the offender's] job to reduce your level of risk of reoffending where the parole board is satisfied it can safely release you back into the community.”

The judge also ordered him to complete a programme for child sex offenders.