Structured International Partnerships for New Zealand Communities
Eastern Bridge is a New Zealand–based international relations management organisation supporting local governments, iwi and schools to engage internationally in a structured, low-risk, and community-focused way.
Established in 2014, Eastern Bridge provides dedicated international relations capability for communities that wish to remain globally connected but do not have the internal capacity, continuity, or specialist expertise to manage overseas relationships independently.
Our work is grounded in long-term relationship management rather than short-term transactions. We prioritise youth opportunity, education pathways, cultural exchange, and practical economic development outcomes.
We are non-political, non-partisan, and operate under clear agreements with defined scope, reporting, and accountability.
Why Eastern Bridge Exists
Many New Zealand councils and community organisations value international engagement, particularly through sister-city or sister-province relationships. However, these relationships are often:
• Managed on top of existing workloads
• Vulnerable to staff turnover
• Dependent on individual relationships rather than institutional systems
• Difficult to maintain during financial or political change
Eastern Bridge was established to provide a stable, long-term international relations management capability that communities can rely on.
We reduce administrative burden, strengthen continuity, and ensure relationships are structured, safe, and professionally managed.
What We Do
Eastern Bridge acts as an outsourced international relations manager.
In practical terms, we:
• Establish new international partnerships
• Reactivate and strengthen dormant relationships
• Manage communication with overseas partners
• Design and deliver exchange programmes, study tours, and volunteer initiatives
• Support governance oversight and reporting
• Identify education, youth, cultural, and appropriate economic opportunities
We operate under agreed mandates and defined scope. Community relationship management is separated clearly from any commercial activity.
For councils, iwi, and schools, our core relationship management services are provided without management fees. Where commercial services are required, these are structured transparently and separately.
Who We Work With
Eastern Bridge primarily partners with:
Eastern Bridge supports New Zealand local governments to design, manage, and strengthen their international relationships, particularly with China and East Asia. We provide strategic advice on sister-city and sister-province partnerships, delegation management, governance frameworks, and risk mitigation. Our services help councils translate international engagement into practical outcomes — including youth exchanges, education pathways, trade opportunities, and community connections — while ensuring political confidence, mandate clarity, and strong reputational safeguards.
Learn more HERE
Eastern Bridge works alongside iwi and hapū to develop and manage meaningful international relationships that respect tikanga Māori and uphold rangatiratanga. We support iwi-to-city and iwi-to-province partnerships, facilitate cultural and educational exchanges, and create pathways for trade, investment, and youth development. Our role is to provide strategic advice, governance support, and practical delivery while ensuring relationships are values-based, politically safe, and aligned with iwi aspirations for long-term social, cultural, and economic benefit.
Learn more HERE.
Eastern Bridge supports schools to build structured, safe, and meaningful international partnerships, particularly with China and East Asia. We assist with sister-school relationships, student and teacher exchanges, study tours, and virtual collaboration programmes. Our services include partner identification, due diligence, programme design, risk management, and full logistical coordination. We help schools create enriching global experiences for students while ensuring alignment with governance requirements, pastoral care standards, and long-term educational outcomes.
Learn more HERE.
Eastern Bridge supports businesses seeking structured and lower-risk engagement with China and East Asia. We provide market entry advisory, partner identification, due diligence, government liaison, and trade facilitation services. Leveraging our established relationships with local governments and provincial authorities, we help companies navigate regulatory environments, cultural considerations, and commercial negotiations. Our focus is on creating credible, well-governed pathways for export growth, procurement opportunities, investment attraction, and long-term commercial partnerships.
Learn more HERE.
Our Track Record
Since 2014, Eastern Bridge has worked alongside councils and communities across New Zealand.
Between 2017 and 2019, we supported 36 local governments with structured international engagement services, including strategic planning, delegation management, due diligence, and relationship coordination.
Our work has included:
• Supporting international education pathways
• Facilitating trade and investment introductions
• Delivering advisory services to central government agencies
• Establishing overseas experience and promotion initiatives
• Delivering the largest nationwide Migrant Perception Survey of its kind in New Zealand
During COVID-19, when international travel paused, we pivoted to community resilience work, launching the Hongi multilingual information platform and supporting migrant community engagement nationally.
From 2026 onward, Eastern Bridge is entering a renewed phase of international activity, focused on collective partnership models, youth exchange, and structured, low-risk engagement.
Governance and Risk Management
Eastern Bridge operates under clear principles of governance and accountability.
Each partnership operates under:
• Defined scope and mandate
• Agreed roles and responsibilities
• Reporting mechanisms
• Risk identification and mitigation processes
We minimise administrative burden while ensuring transparency and political confidence.
We do not promote political positions or agendas. Our work is community-focused and grounded in practical outcomes.
Our Kaupapa
Eastern Bridge’s work is guided by:
Manaakitanga — care, responsibility, and respect
Whanaungatanga — enduring relationships
Reciprocity — mutual benefit
Trust — integrity and transparency
Community uplift — building opportunity and capability
These principles shape how we engage, how we design programmes, and how we respond to challenges.
Leadership
Eastern Bridge was founded by Simon Appleton in 2014.
Simon has lived and worked in China for approximately ten years and in South Korea for three years. He speaks Mandarin Chinese and Korean and holds a Master’s degree in Chinese law with a focus on foreign policy.
He has worked closely with New Zealand local government, including Toi EDA and Ōpōtiki District Council, supporting sister-city relationships, investment attraction, and Asia engagement strategies.
Simon currently serves as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Korea in New Zealand.
Eastern Bridge reflects a belief that community-level international relationships matter, and that they must be managed with continuity, cultural competence, and integrity.
View Simon’s curriculum vitae HERE.
Our Commitment
International engagement should be:
• Practical
• Low risk
• Culturally informed
• Community-aligned
• Transparent
Eastern Bridge exists to ensure New Zealand communities can engage internationally with confidence.