Being part of the North West Country Business Association means I get to meet the people who make West Auckland feel like home.
The people who show up.
The ones who keep this region moving.
The ones who put their whole heart into what they do.
Behind every business is a story.
Behind every logo is a human.
And sometimes you only see that once you spend real time with them.
That’s how this shoot with Bridgestone Kumeu began.
Meeting Johnny and Olga
Johnny greeted me with the biggest open smile. The kind of smile that instantly makes you feel welcome.
Then came Olga, with her soft Limerick accent that pulled me straight into the Irish-abroad conversation we all end up having.
Who do you know.
Who knows you.
Where we overlap.
Instant warmth.
We talked about business, the reality of running something during unpredictable times, and the ups and downs of serving a growing region.
And then Olga said something that has stayed with me ever since.
She said, it’s up to us to make the changes we want to see. If we want things to get better, we need to support each other.
And she’s right.
That’s exactly what sits at the heart of the North West Country Business Association.
Behind the Scenes of the Shoot
Their workshop had its own rhythm.
The smell of rubber.
Tools humming.
Sunlight glinting off metal.
A familiar North West Auckland kind of energy.
And in the back room, curled up fast asleep inside an old tyre, was their dog.
Completely unbothered.
Completely at home.
The perfect reminder that this place isn’t just a workplace, it’s a whole life.
Johnny relaxed the moment he forgot the camera existed.
Olga’s gentle, grounded way held the whole space steady.
Together, you could see the partnership of two people who care deeply about each other and the community they serve.
This is why I love doing business photography in our area.
There’s real heart here.
Real pride.
Real stories that deserve to be seen.
What This Says About Our Community
This is exactly what the North West Country Business Association stands for.
Connection.
Support.
Community over competition.
People lifting each other up in big ways and small ones.
You see it every time a business sends work down the road instead of competing.
You see it when someone shares contacts.
You see it when members show up for each other without being asked.
This region is growing, shifting, transforming.
And the people inside it are shaping what it becomes.
Johnny and Olga are part of that.
And I’m grateful I got to photograph them.
Aisling O’Brien from Aisling O’Brien Photography