A businessman on a drink-driving charge advertised to pay a student $510 a week to chauffeur him in his Hummer and Lamborghini.

Gary Richards, a director of six companies, placed an advert with Student Job Search in Auckland for a tidy and positive student to drive him to "business appointments" for seven weeks. He has since "filled the job privately".

The applicant had to be available in business hours from Monday to Friday – but "can study while the employer is in meetings".

Richards is charged with driving with excess breath alcohol of 701 micrograms per litre of breath – the legal limit is 400mcg. He is due to appear in court on June 18.

Student Job Search spokesman Marek Koliandr said three students were referred for the job, which drew reasonably high interest. "It sounds like a pretty sweet job."

The pay rate was lower than the $15 an hour the service would usually expect and the hours were "a bit awkward" for students to fit into their schedules. "Most students attend classes and do exams, so I don't see how they're going to fit this in."

Antony Williams, one of those short-listed, said he thought at first that the job was too good to be true. "The experience of driving one of ... [those] vehicles is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I thought, 'This is me.' [I am a] safe driver, good personality, easy to get on with."

Mr Koliandr said demand for jobs was high, with the unemployment rate at 6 per cent. "Students are generally competing more with people that have more experience and skills."

About 45,000 people registered for Student Job Search in the year to May, compared with 10,000 the year before.