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Community International Relations · for councils, iwi and CCOs
Your own international relations team, without the staff cost.
We look after your overseas relationships month to month: sister cities, partner provinces, delegations, approaches and the paperwork in between. You always know what we did, and your elected members get a plan and a report they can table.
Your first 30 minutes are free and confidential.
Since 2014
the international relations team for councils without one
36
councils supported, and 23 at once in 2019
$900
+ GST a month for one council, iwi or CCO
12 months
minimum term, with a plan and an annual report
The problem we solve
Most councils have international links but no one whose job it is to look after them. Letters sit unanswered, visits arrive at short notice, and approaches land on a busy officer’s desk. These are the questions we hear most.
“Could this embarrass us?”
We check before anyone replies, so nothing ends up in the local paper that you can’t explain.
“Are they who they say they are?”
We check records in New Zealand and overseas, including sources in the other party’s own language.
“What are we signing up to?”
Protocol, MOUs and return visits explained in plain English, in both languages, before you commit.
“Is it worth the ratepayers’ money?”
Clear deliverables, a short monthly summary and an annual report to council.
“What if our officer leaves?”
We keep the records, contacts and history, so the relationship doesn’t leave with them.
“Our sister city has gone quiet.”
We help you decide whether to revive it, reshape it or wind it down respectfully.
What’s included
One monthly fee covers the day-to-day work of keeping your international relationships active, safe and useful.
Not included: travel, delegation hosting costs (venues, hospitality and gifts), extra interpreters and certified translation. These are charged at cost and agreed with you first. Extra hours are $55 + GST an hour.
How it works, month to month
Plan
At the start we agree an annual relationship plan with you: which relationships matter, what you want from them, and what we will do.
Look after
We handle the letters, calls, approaches, checks and visits as they come up, within your included hours. Unused hours carry forward to the next month.
Report
Each month you get a short summary of what we did. Each year you get a report you can table, and we review the plan together.
Pricing
Fixed monthly fees, the same as on our services and prices page. All prices are plus GST.
Not sure you need ongoing support yet? Start with a China Readiness Review ($1,200 + GST, fixed). If you go on to Community International Relations, the full Review fee comes off your first month.
Who’s eligible
These community prices are only for New Zealand councils (district, city and regional), iwi and council-controlled organisations (CCOs), working on their own community’s international relationships. Businesses, business associations, chambers and other organisations use our standard services and prices. We confirm eligibility in writing before we start.
No payment from the other side. We never take payment from an overseas party we are checking or liaising with for you. If any partner pays us a fee for anything, we tell you in writing first. Arrangements in China go through Beijing New Bridge, a separate company in which Eastern Bridge holds a 30% share; we always tell you when it is involved. See Transparency.
Sister cities and delegations
Plenty of councils have a sister city on paper. We help you keep yours active, honest and useful.
Delegations are planned within your hours. Hosting a delegation in New Zealand outside a monthly agreement is $2,800 + GST (up to five days), plus travel. Allow at least 2 weeks’ notice, or 6 weeks or more if invitation letters and visas are needed. Not sure what links your council has? Search the Sister-City Directory. Hosting soon? Download the free delegation hosting checklist (PDF).
Local business and economic development
Chinese local governments usually expect to meet a government counterpart first, so a council introduction carries real weight. We make sure it’s used carefully, for the right businesses, and that council isn’t left promising things it can’t deliver.
Introductions through your partner cities
The right counterpart in your partner city or province, checked first, for local businesses that are ready.
Business delegations
With your chamber or economic development agency: who should go, who to meet, and what to expect.
Checking an investor
An investor wants to meet the mayor next week? We check who they are first.
Training for staff and elected members
Protocol, hosting delegations, reading an MOU and spotting risks early. See China training for councils.
Work we can point to includes Hawke’s Bay wine into Hangzhou and an Eastern Bay of Plenty business delegation to Jiangxi. Chambers and business associations use our standard business prices; businesses can start at Trade & tourism.
Community exchanges
The best relationships are the ones local people are part of.
Community and iwi exchanges
Cultural groups, kapa haka, sports teams and community visits, with tikanga and Chinese custom both respected.
Sister schools
Links between your local schools and schools in your partner city. This sits under Education.
China Volunteer Programme
A free volunteer cultural exchange in China for young adults from participating districts, run under the sister-city relationship.
Iwi relationships on your own terms
Iwi and hapū build their own relationships; we support introductions, protocol and interpreting.
Compliance and transparency
Councils are expected to manage international relationships openly and carefully. We help you ask the right questions early, and we check our work against:
No payment from the other side. We never take payment from an overseas party we are checking or liaising with for you. If any partner pays us a fee for anything, we tell you in writing first. Arrangements in China go through Beijing New Bridge, a separate company in which Eastern Bridge holds a 30% share; we always tell you when it is involved. See Transparency.
Track record
Since 2014 we have been the international relations team for councils that don’t have one of their own.
Eastern Bridge provided valuable due diligence and international engagement training for our staff and elected members. Understanding the risks and opportunities of international partnerships is essential for councils, and Simon helped ensure we approached these relationships in a well-informed way.
John Tregidga
Former Mayor — Hauraki District Council
Simon’s work through Eastern Bridge helped bring several New Zealand councils together to collaborate in the international relations space. Rather than working in isolation, councils were able to share knowledge and opportunities that benefited multiple communities.
John Forbes
Former Mayor — Ōpōtiki District Council
How to start
Three steps, and you agree everything in writing before we begin.
A free call
30 minutes, confidential. Tell us about your relationships and what’s worrying you.
Review or scoping
Either a China Readiness Review ($1,200 + GST, credited if you go on to Community International Relations), or a scoping conversation about what you need.
Agreement
A written agreement: scope, hours, start date and reporting. We confirm eligibility in writing before we start.
Questions councils ask
Why a 12-month minimum?
Relationships with China run on years, not weeks. Twelve months gives us time to agree a plan, see it through a full cycle of visits and correspondence, and report back to council.
What happens to hours we don’t use?
Unused included hours carry forward to the next month. Extra hours are $55 + GST an hour, and we agree them with you first.
Can several councils share one agreement?
Yes. The regional relationship covers up to 10 participants: district, city and regional councils, iwi and CCOs, sharing up to 90 hours a month, with partner checks included in the monthly fee.
Do CCOs count?
Yes. CCOs come in at the community rate and count in the 10 for a regional relationship.
Can a business or chamber use these prices?
No. Community prices are only for New Zealand councils, iwi and CCOs working on their own community’s international relationships. Businesses and chambers use our standard services and prices.
Who does the work?
Simon Appleton (方志杰) leads every agreement, with our team in New Zealand and China. You have one named contact.
Do you take money from the overseas side?
No. We never take payment from an overseas party we are checking or liaising with for you, and we tell you in writing if any partner pays us a fee for anything.
What happens at the end of 12 months?
We review the year with you and your report, and agree together whether to carry on, change the scope or stop.
Book a call
Free and confidential for the first 30 minutes. We’ll tell you plainly whether you need ongoing support, a one-off Review, or neither.