Hollywood star to face court in drink-drive case

Hollywood star Chris Pine will face a media scrum on Monday, but not for his acting.

The Star Trek star will appear in the Ashburton District Court charged with drink-driving after being pulled over by police in Methven. He had been attending a wrap party for the cast and crew of the film Z for Zachariah.

Pine, 33, who is best known for playing Captain James T. Kirk in the 2009 film Star Trek and its sequel Star Trek Into Darkness last year, was stopped during a routine drink-driving operation on March 1.

Canterbury police said a 33-year-old American man had been charged.

Pine has been staying in Methven while filming the final stages of Z for Zachariah at Washpen Falls, near Windwhistle.

The Wolf of Wall Street star Margot Robbie and Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, star of 12 Years A Slave, have also been there filming for the movie.

Pine, who was born in California comes from a showbusiness family. His father Robert appeared in the hit TV show CHiPs and his mother is a former actor.

Blue Pub Methven manager Casey Crawford said 70 cast, crew and volunteers had hired the pub to celebrate the end of filming on February 28 with the party ending about 3am the next day - the morning Pine was pulled over by police.

Methven locals Mitchell Pannett and Ryan Ashworth, who are both regulars at the town's pub, talked to Pine for five minutes early on March 1 at the bar.

Mr Pannett said they discussed the movie Pine was filming and the local landscape.

Pine appeared fine, he said.

"I would've said [he was] not even drunk."

Mr Crawford said Pine arrived at the pub with his model girlfriend Iris Bjork Johannesdottir and spent most of his time with her.

Pine and other cast and crew were "subdued" throughout the night, and he even took time to pose for photos with staff, Mr Crawford said.

"You can see the photos behind the bar with our staff and he looked fine, I only ever saw him drinking tap beer, and his partner, she was just drinking sav wine."

He said there were designated sober drivers for those attending the wrap party, so he was surprised Pine had decided to drive.

Police said they would not comment further as the case was now before the court.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said appropriate measures would be put in place to handle any extra media attention during Pine's appearance at Ashburton District Court on Monday.

Pine's lawyer declined to comment yesterday.