When Tamati Parker was a student at Lytton High School in Gisborne, the construction industry felt like a world away. His earliest experiences came from labouring on building sites with his dad—work he quickly realised wasn’t for him. But thanks to a perceptive careers advisor and support from Keystone Trust, Tamati Parker’s construction journey took a remarkable turn.
“My advisor Craig Wilkie told me to aim higher and set goals,” Tamati recalls. At the time, life wasn’t easy—his parents had separated, and he was helping care for his sick grandmother while also supporting four younger siblings. But Craig’s words stuck. Tamati rose to become one of the school’s top students and, with Craig’s encouragement, applied for a Keystone scholarship.
How Keystone Trust Changed Tamati’s Future.
That application changed everything. “I suddenly found myself in Auckland for the first time, shaking hands with the Keystone selection panel in a high-rise office. I was pumped just to be there,” he says. A few weeks later, he got the call: he had won the scholarship.
Tamati began studying quantity surveying at Wintec in Hamilton and later completed his degree at Unitec while working as a cadet at Multiplex in Auckland. “Keystone believed in me even when I didn’t,” he says. “Their constant support and mentoring helped me realise I was capable of much more.”
Building C3 Construction with a Purpose.
Today, Tamati serves as a director and co-founder of C3 Construction, a fast-growing firm that prioritises innovation and sustainability. He now gives back by employing a fellow Keystone graduate and mentoring students just as others once mentored him. Tamati also sits on the Keystone Board as a trustee and, together with his fellow C3 directors, has created a school leaver scholarship to support the next generation of industry leaders.
Supporting the Next Generation of Builders.
Josh Hughes from Gisborne received the first C3 scholarship—an outstanding young talent with a bright future in the industry. Tamati Parker and Kirk Bakker, Directors of 3Group, awarded him the scholarship in recognition of his dedication, potential, and commitment to a career in construction. This support will help Josh financially and connect him with mentors as he continues his studies and prepares to make his mark in the sector.
“Mike Higgins recently said that as alumni grow into leadership roles, we’ll be in a position to support the next generation. That hit home—I realised I was in that position now.”
Tamati Parker
Paying It Forward Through Construction and Community.
Tamati, Michael Bowman, and Kirk Bakker launched C3 Construction in 2016. Since then, the company has made waves by embracing new technology and building a people-first culture. “We believe in treating people with care and respect,” Tamati says. “That philosophy sits at the heart of both C3 and Keystone.”
For Tamati, giving back means more than paying a debt—it’s a responsibility. “Whatever I do will never fully repay the impact Keystone had on my life,” he says. “But I’m committed to paying it forward so more young people can have the same opportunities I did.”
