Supporting our students for 30 years

Join us as we celebrate 30 years in 2024!  We share some special alumni stories, acknowledge those who have supported us along the way, and welcome you to join us at our Gala Dinner in October.

It’s our 30th birthday!

Where have the years gone?! Thinking back to 1994 when the founding trustees signed the Trust Deed, little did they know they would be celebrating 30 years of creating future leaders for our industry; 30 years of providing over 300 scholarships around the motu and 30 years of helping industry develop broader outcomes that make a difference to their communities.

Here you will find not just stories of success over the last 30 years as we celebrate throughout the year, but also event details as we lead up to our big birthday party!

2002 Trustees at awards dinner, from left: Paul Duffy, John Whitehead, Binty Bringans, Mike Higgins, Gregory Shanahan, John Bayley, Dallas Pendergrast, Mike Hutcheson, Bruce Sanderson (absent:  Deborah Kelland, David Kennedy, Ann Robertson).

Event Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Platinum Donors

The ASAP Finance
& Hemat Patel Foundation

M.A. Bringans

Gold Sponsors

Keystone Trustee Binty Bringans
“Graeme loved supporting young people along their life and career journeys. Keystone Trust has continued his work and I know he would be so proud to see the impact we’ve made.

I feel very fortunate to have followed the progress of many students over the years and watched them move into leadership roles. After 30 years, I still enjoy being involved in the trust and continuing to meet such deserving and positive young people.”

Binty Bringans – Founding Trustee

Our 30th Birthday Gala Dinner

Dust off the glad rags and book the baby-sitter now, as this is one party you don’t want to miss!  Put a circle around Thursday 24 October because Keystone Trust is celebrating its 30th birthday!

Date: Thursday 24 October
Time: 6pm
Location: Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland

For more information, please contact Ailsa Rinakama – Keystone Trust Marketing and Events Manager.

A registration link open will be open soon.

30 Stories for 30 Years

“Try and figure yourself out, before trying to figure out others”

Ryan Trotter recently took a trip to the Australian...

Bringing community into focus

Elyjana Roach is reflecting on the flight she took from Wellington to Auckland for her Keystone Study Award interview.

“Why shouldn’t I apply?”

Patrick Watta’s wardrobe was a little bit different when he turned up for his Keystone Trust Scholarship interview.

Read more stories

The power of giving back

The power of giving back

Zak Mataa’s journey exemplifies the power of perseverance and the impact of mentorship. Having experienced both sides, he understands firsthand how a mentor can assist with shaping someone’s future. Reflecting on his student days, Zak remembers “being on the other side”, and acknowledges the support he received through Keystone.

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Seizing opportunity despite adversity

Seizing opportunity despite adversity

Why did Kākati Te Kākākura Royal reach out to Keystone? “Because I have never received a scholarship before,” he wrote on his application form. There were many other things Kākati had not received – principally a stable upbringing that nurtured a love of life and learning. By his own description, he was exposed to “different experiences” as a child: a turbulent mix of family discord, run-ins with the law, school expulsion, homelessness and time spent in pre-youth prison.

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Putting the cart before the horse

Putting the cart before the horse

This is a story about putting the cart before the horse.
Richard Smales was fresh out of high school. He was a true newbie: an inaugural recipient of a Graeme Bringans Property Education Trust (GBPET) award. And he had determined to study surveying at the University of Otago.
There was just one problem: Richard failed University Entrance by one mark – seemingly barring his automatic admission to tertiary study.

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Alumni finds magic in career change

Alumni finds magic in career change

Changing career lanes takes guts, but as Keystone Trust alumni and 2019 Study Award recipient Kamal McEntee-Amziane discovered, magic happens when you lean on your network and take a risk.

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An inspirational Keystone journey shows that character trumps all

An inspirational Keystone journey shows that character trumps all

Jethro Giles made his first financial killing when just eight years old.
Rather than simply seeking a contribution from his parents for a school fundraising scheme and leaving it at that, he maximised the profits by signing up donors at the local supermarket. Kitted out in his school uniform, day after day, he garnered contributions by the thousands – and made himself some handsome pocket money on the side, thanks to an incentive scheme offered by his school.

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Alumni Journey One of Steel Resolve Through Hardship

Alumni Journey One of Steel Resolve Through Hardship

In 2021, Asalemo Lilomaiava was spread thin. Balancing a demanding schedule of shift work to support his family, and caring for a member undergoing medical treatment, all while in his final year completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering with Honours.

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From helping out at his uncle’s farm on semester break to leading prominent law firm’s national resource management team

From helping out at his uncle’s farm on semester break to leading prominent law firm’s national resource management team

“I am fascinated at seeing the development of schemes such as housing subdivisions. I believe that in the property industry I can contribute to development, but keep that in harmony with the environment.” That was Joshua Leckie, aged 17, applying for a Keystone Scholarship – then known as the Graeme Bringans Property Education Trust (GBPET) student study award – in 2003. How prescient he was. And how “chuffed” he is to look back on that statement today.

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From Keystone Trust interviewee to interviewer

From Keystone Trust interviewee to interviewer

Corrina Gibbons-Hurinui knows the Keystone scholarship interview process from both sides of the table. As a teenaged applicant, she found the selection panel encounter “pretty terrifying”, she now laughingly admits. Later, she became a panel member herself, and while still trying to keep prospective recipients on their toes: “I didn’t go out of my way to make it terrifying.”

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New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Award winner – premium peer recognition reflects on Keystone Trust journey

New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Award winner – premium peer recognition reflects on Keystone Trust journey

Thao Nguyen’s journey of achievement began long before her introduction to Keystone. Just 13 years prior to receiving her study award, Thao, together with her mother and sibling, arrived in New Zealand as refugees from Vietnam. They could not speak any English. That meant a fast learning curve for Thao in particular, who had to immerse herself in English as a second language and assume the role as both lead family interpreter and teacher.

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1997 Study Award recipient “I don’t regret the path I have taken”

1997 Study Award recipient “I don’t regret the path I have taken”

Lee Matheson gave indication of his drive in his original Keystone application letter, where, as a 17-year-old,  he wrote: “I aim to get the most out of my life by doing everything positive to make it enjoyable and satisfying. A country boy at heart, my interests reflect this.  I get great pleasure out of everything I do, and plan to continue, wherever life may take me.”

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Alumni’s Academic Triumph Set to Reshape Housing Futures in Aotearoa-New Zealand

Alumni’s Academic Triumph Set to Reshape Housing Futures in Aotearoa-New Zealand

She was seventeen years old and in her final year of high school, juggling responsibilities few navigate successfully, even in adulthood. However, humble beginnings have never held Jacqueline Paul from achievement, nor have they seen her steadfast social consciousness wane. Jacqueline’s story is an amazing story of Wāhine Toa as we celebrate International Women’s Day this year.

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Keystone Alumni – where are they now?

Over the past 30 years, some 212 Study Award, Key Partner Scholarship and School Leaver Scholarship recipients have graduated and joined the Trust’s alumni group. Some have travelled far and are now working offshore, however, 78% are still living in New Zealand and the vast majority are still working in the property/construction sectors. We are proud to recognise and celebrate their stories and invite you to read about their journeys through our 30 stories for 30 years.

Coming soon

 

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