Curtis faces charges of reckless driving and driving with excess blood alcohol after a crash at the intersection of Jellicoe St and Halsey St in central Auckland on September 23.
Emergency services were alerted about 10.30pm after a Tesla struck a parked taxi, trapping a man inside.
Two people were taken to hospital, one in a serious condition, and a third suffered minor injuries.
The driver of a parked taxi was trapped in their vehicle after the collision. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Before charges were laid, Curtis said he was “collaborating fully with relevant authorities” and was “deeply saddened” by the incident.
The owner of Wynyard Mart, which is about 20m away from the crash scene, described the incident as a loud “boom”.
The precinct was particularly busy that night because of a show at the nearby ASB Waterfront Theatre.
Cliff Curtis with UFC star Israel Adesanya at the Breakers’ season-opening win over Illawara at Spark Arena on September 20. Photo / NZ Breakers
Curtis shot to fame in the Kiwi films Once Were Warriors and Whale Rider, before starring in blockbuster franchises Avatar and Fast & Furious.
He was photographed alongside UFC star Israel Adesanya at the New Zealand Breakers’ season-opening win over the Illawara Hawks at Spark Arena three days before the crash.
Curtis has a home in Rotorua and maintains strong ties to New Zealand.
Earlier this year, he was part of the acquisition of Auckland’s Studio West, alongside fellow Hollywood stars Jason Momoa and Taika Waititi.
The trio’s company Āriki Group purchased the long-running studio with plans to expand it into a hub for domestic and international productions.