Constable Paddy Henderson, of Cromwell, said the man was arrested on Friday evening and charged with dangerous driving and driving with excess breath-alcohol.
Police were called to a Gair Ave house in Cromwell at 11pm on Friday, to find the 20-year-old male driver's car had badly damaged part of the house.
Const Henderson said the driver and his 18-year-old male front-seat passenger, also of Cromwell, had been drinking.
The driver was speeding and failed to take a corner from Waenga Dr into Gair Ave, he said.
"He crashed the car into a garage, causing bricks from the house to smash the neighbouring fence and some windows of the neighbouring house. Structural damage would be in excess of $60,000," he said.
An elderly couple living in the house were at home when the incident occurred, and were "devastated", Const Henderson said.
No-one was injured.
The 20-year-old driver is due to appear in the Alexandra District Court on Thursday.
A 46-year-old Lake Hayes Estate resident will appear in the Queenstown District Court to answer a drink-driving charge, after deciding to "take his car for a lap", early yesterday.
Sergeant Steve Watt, of Queenstown, said the man had been drinking at home on Saturday evening and became "quite intoxicated".
"He decided to take his car for a lap around the block.
"He ended up ripping up the neighbour's lawn and smashing through his own fence . . . as you do," Sgt Watt said.
A subsequent breath-alcohol test gave a reading of 941mcg, he said.
A second drink-driver was apprehended following a random stop on Camp St and gave a reading of 916mcg.
It was expected both drivers would appear in the Queenstown District Court tomorrow.
