News & events

Theirs was an unlikely combination. Bruce Sanderson was a lawyer; Graeme Bringans was a property developer with a very high profile. In their respective careers, they would encounter each other – but did not always see eye to eye.

Back in the early days, when Mike Bayley was in charge of putting up the ‘For Sale’ signs for the family real estate business, he remembers hearing about Graeme Bringans.

“Getting an education at King’s College, thanks to the generosity of a maiden aunt, changed my life forever,” says John Bayley. “That is why I am happy to give back.”

Philip Littlewood gladly picked up the Keystone sponsorship baton on behalf of Stride Property Group, following in the footsteps of founding trustee Paul Duffy and previous Stride CEO Peter Alexander.

If ever there was proof of the power of the Keystone, it lies in the face of its scholars, says Andrew Petersen. The managing partner of Bell Gully and former chairman / head of the law firm’s projects and real estate team is talking about attending major Keystone annual events that are pivotal features of the trust’s whakapapa.

Ryan Trotter recently took a trip to the Australian outback. There in the Northern Territory, he tramped, camped and climbed a mountain or two too, before coming home. Next he’s thinking about a trip to Antarctica. “I noticed that I was a lot less stressed [than my...

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

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

Such great choice. So many options. How was Raukura Turei ever going to choose her tertiary pathway?

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.

Emily Beniamin and Mariam Matti have uncannily similar backgrounds, but it wasn’t until they were half a world away from their homeland that they discovered their shared roots.

With applications for the 2025 Keystone Study Awards shortly to close, it’s worth noting that two members of the selection committee could not be better qualified for their roles.

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.

Growing up in Tāneatua – a small town just south of Whakatāne in the Eastern Bay of Plenty – Jordan Marr-Henry found limited opportunities and challenges shaped his early years.