Scholarship announced in memory of Peter Kermode

A scholarship to commemorate Peter Kermode has been established by his family and Colliers International.

Kermode was a successful and well-respected commercial property broker at Colliers, where he was affectionately known by friends, colleagues and clients as PK. He passed away in 2017.

The Peter Kermode Scholarship will be run in conjunction with the University of Auckland.

The $5000 scholarship will be awarded annually with the aim of supporting a student in their first year of study after graduating from the Tertiary Foundation Certificate (TFC) programme. Kermode completed the Wellesley Programme, now known as the TFC programme, in 2001. He went on to study a Bachelor of Property at the University of Auckland before becoming a respected member of Colliers’ Auckland Investment Sales team.

His brother James Kermode, announced the scholarship to TFC students at the university this week.

“I want to tell you about who Pete was and the opportunity that is available to you with the scholarship in his name.

“Pete didn’t complete Bursary and spent a few aimless years before establishing a career direction.

His first year at university completing the Wellesley Programme was a turning point in his life where he was able to use this course as a platform for future success.

“It took guts from Pete to make the call, on his own, to join the Wellesley Programme and get himself motivated to continue his education.”

James Kermode told students that Peter became a top performer in a very competitive industry. He showed fight and grit to get through the programme, and his success in life was defined by those characteristics and a willingness to grind away till success became the only possible outcome.

“I had a deep admiration for my brother, he was legend. He was also admired by his colleagues and clients in his professional life at Colliers. It was this admiration for Pete that gave Colliers and my family the determination to establish something meaningful and lasting in his memory.

“Colliers came to me with the idea early in the year, and we have been working together with Auckland Uni to make this happen.”

The TFC programme provides a pathway to undergraduate study for those who did not qualify for entry due to their grades or other reasons — for example, leaving school early or wanting to study later in life.

Gareth Fraser, Auckland director of investment sales at Colliers, says the successful applicant will have demonstrated qualities in their TFC year that were characteristic of Peter.

“Those qualities are empathy and an understanding of others, grit, diligence, commitment and ability to overcome adversity,” said Fraser.