Building on the success of the inaugural 2015 event, the second New Zealand-China Mayoral Forum was held in Wellington in December 2017. As a preferred partner for LGNZ, Eastern Bridge played an expanded role in providing strategic advice, training, and on-the-ground support.

What began as the Jiangxi–Bay of Plenty volunteer programme in 2024 has rapidly grown into a nationwide initiative, with 130 fully-funded Kiwis set to immerse themselves in Chinese culture across six provinces this year. Applications for the September intake are still open.

An upcoming business delegation to Jiangxi Province will connect companies from the Eastern Bay of Plenty and South Waikato with Chinese partners and market opportunities. Businesses interested in trade, investment, or collaboration are invited to register their interest and explore new connections, insights, and potential partnerships in one of China’s fastest-growing regions

The 2025 Migrant Perception Survey gathers insights from migrants across New Zealand to better understand their experiences, challenges, and contributions to local communities. Conducted in multiple languages, the survey helps councils and organisations identify barriers to settlement, improve services, and support stronger, more inclusive communities across the country.

Sister city relationships help communities build lasting international friendships and cooperation. They create opportunities for cultural exchange, student programmes, business connections, and knowledge sharing between cities. By connecting local communities across borders, sister cities strengthen global understanding while supporting education, tourism, and economic opportunities.

Education partnerships between New Zealand and China will continue to grow as schools and institutions seek deeper collaboration. Student exchanges, joint programmes, research partnerships, and cultural learning opportunities help build global skills while strengthening long-term relationships, creating benefits for students, educators, and communities in both countries.

The Sister Cities Directory provides a central place to explore international partnerships between New Zealand communities and cities around the world. It highlights existing sister city relationships, key information about partner cities, and the opportunities these connections create for cultural exchange, education cooperation, business links, and community diplomacy.

Learning Chinese gives New Zealanders a powerful advantage in a world where China is one of our most important economic and cultural partners. Studying the language builds communication skills, deepens cultural understanding, and opens opportunities in trade, tourism, education, and diplomacy while strengthening New Zealand’s ability to engage confidently with Asia.

Iwi partnerships with communities in China create opportunities for cultural exchange, education collaboration, and new economic pathways. By building relationships directly with Chinese regions, iwi can share Māori culture, develop people-to-people connections, and explore opportunities in tourism, trade, and education while strengthening Indigenous diplomacy and global relationships

Sister-school relationships create opportunities for students and teachers to build international friendships, share culture, and learn from different education systems. Through exchanges, joint projects, and online collaboration, schools can broaden global understanding, inspire language learning, and give young people valuable international perspectives and lifelong connections