A decade of community-level international engagement
Eastern Bridge was established in 2014 in response to a practical challenge: many New Zealand communities wanted to remain internationally connected, but lacked the capacity, continuity, or specialist expertise to manage those relationships effectively.
Since then, Eastern Bridge has evolved alongside the communities it serves — adapting to changing global conditions while remaining focused on long-term, people-to-people relationships.
At a glance
- Established in 2014
- More than ten years working with New Zealand councils and communities
- Active across local government, education, and community exchange
- Adapted through COVID-19 without abandoning kaupapa
- Entering a renewed phase of international engagement from 2026 onward
2014–2016: Establishment and early delivery
Eastern Bridge was founded in 2014 by Simon Appleton, following his work with Toi EDA (Eastern Bay of Plenty Regional Economic Development Agency) and Ōpōtiki District Council.
During this period, Eastern Bridge provided:
- Translation and communication support
- Relationship coordination with overseas partners
- Advisory support to councils exploring or maintaining sister city relationships
Early demand highlighted a consistent issue across multiple councils: international relationships were often managed on top of existing workloads, without dedicated staff or long-term continuity.
Eastern Bridge was established to provide that missing capability.
2017–2019: Growth and expanded services
From 2017 onwards, Eastern Bridge expanded rapidly, supporting a growing number of councils across New Zealand.
By 2019, Eastern Bridge was working with 36 local governments, providing structured international relations management services including:
- Relationship management and communication
- Strategic planning for international engagement
- Delegation management (inbound and outbound)
- Due diligence and advisory services
- Trade, education, and investment facilitation
During this period, Eastern Bridge:
- Supported hundreds of international students
- Assisted councils and businesses to attract significant foreign direct investment
- Delivered training and advisory services to central government agencies
- Worked closely with national organisations supporting Asia engagement
In late 2019, Eastern Bridge also established an overseas experience centre in Jiangxi Province, China, designed to promote regional New Zealand communities, products, education, and culture.
2020–2022: COVID-19 and strategic pivot
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted international travel and engagement.
As borders closed:
- Most active international programmes were paused
- The overseas experience centre was closed
- Many councils concluded or suspended international contracts
Rather than disengaging entirely, Eastern Bridge redirected its focus to areas of urgent need.
Migrant Perception Survey
From 2017 onward, Eastern Bridge had been funding and delivering a nationwide Migrant Perception Survey to better understand the lived experiences of migrant communities in New Zealand.
By 2019, this had become the largest survey of its kind in the country.
During COVID-19, this work intensified, supporting councils and central agencies to:
- Understand migrant concerns
- Develop more effective multicultural strategies
- Improve communication and service delivery
Eastern Bridge also contributed to the development of national programmes supporting welcoming and inclusive communities.
Launch of Hongi
In 2020, Eastern Bridge launched Hongi, a multilingual information platform designed to address widespread misinformation affecting migrant communities during the pandemic.
Hongi provided:
- Daily news and explainers
- Public health information
- Practical guidance on living in New Zealand
- Content in multiple languages
The platform operated as a not-for-profit service and became one of the most widely accessed migrant-focused information sources in New Zealand during this period.
2022–2025: Education and community capability building
In 2022, Eastern Bridge established Eastern Bridge Education, responding to:
- Gaps in English language and employment training for migrants
- Anticipated demand following border reopening
- The need for community-based education delivery in regional areas
Eastern Bridge Education grew quickly, initially through partnerships and later as a registered Private Training Establishment.
During this period, Eastern Bridge Limited:
- Reduced most commercial international operations
- Focused on non-profit and community-benefit activities
- Continued to support councils and communities where possible
This phase allowed Eastern Bridge to strengthen its education capability and refine a more sustainable operating model.
2026 onwards: Renewed international engagement
From 2026, Eastern Bridge is entering a new phase of activity.
Local governments, iwi, and schools are once again seeking international engagement, but within tighter financial and risk constraints.
In response, Eastern Bridge has:
- Redesigned its operating model to remove management fees for community partners
- Prioritised long-term relationship management over transactional work
- Re-focused on youth, education, and community exchange
- Built on established relationships across Asia
Planned activities include:
- Expanded volunteer programmes
- Study tours and student exchanges
- Community-led cultural and education initiatives
- Renewed trade and investment facilitation where appropriate
This renewed phase builds directly on the experience and lessons of the past decade.
A consistent kaupapa
While the form of Eastern Bridge’s work has evolved, its underlying kaupapa has remained consistent:
- Support communities to engage internationally in a practical, safe way
- Prioritise people-to-people relationships
- Reduce risk and administrative burden for partners
- Act with integrity, cultural respect, and long-term intent