If you’ve travelled anywhere around Tasman lately, chances are you’ve passed Charles van Kempen on the road. As the sole Bridgestone Fleet Service Technician based in Motueka, Charles covers up to 1,000 km a week, servicing tyres from Golden Bay to Springs Junction—and just about everywhere in between. From wheelbarrows to 40-ton dump trucks, no job is too big or too small.
“I can be anywhere, working on anything,” Charles says. Originally from a dairy farm in the Waikato and having spent time dairy farming in Murchison, Charles says the hands-on lifestyle suits him.
“Being an ex-dairy farmer, I enjoy seeing the country and getting to go places most people don’t even know exist. Every day is different, which I like too.” And there’s no shortage of surprises either. Asked about the strangest thing he’s come across, Charles recalls, “Probably half a multi-tool stuck in a tyre.”
Charles handles everything tyre-related—from repairs and maintenance to after-hours callouts and emergency changes—for a wide range of vehicles, including trucks, heavy machinery, utes, cars, and quad bikes. While the role comes with its challenges—being the only technician for such a large area—Charles takes it all in stride.
“There’s just me, and I know farmers and growers are relying on me. That’s something I take seriously.” Whether it’s a farm gate call-out or a highway breakdown, Charles is keeping rural wheels turning—one tyre at a time.
