Transparency
How we work, who pays us, and who we work with
International relationships only work when people can trust them. So here’s the plain version.
Last updated: October 2026
On this page
Who we are
Eastern Bridge Limited is a New Zealand company based in Napier, owned by Simon Appleton. We work as a social enterprise: we aim to cover our costs, and put people and community benefit first.
Related organisations
| Organisation | Relationship to us |
|---|---|
| Eastern Bridge Education Ltd | A separate company and NZQA-registered training provider. Eastern Bridge is a major shareholder. It delivers its own courses. ebe.ac.nz |
| Beijing New Bridge（北京纽必捷文化传播有限公司） | Our sister organisation in China. It works with host schools on the China Volunteer Programme. |
How we’re paid
- Councils and organisations pay a monthly fee or a per-job fee, agreed up front.
- Businesses pay consulting fees for advice and market-entry support.
- Some partners pay us a referral fee or commission, for example on student fees. When that applies, we tell you in writing before you decide.
- Eastern Bridge receives dividends from its shareholding in Eastern Bridge Education.
Pro bono work
We support some Eastern Bay of Plenty councils free of charge for now.
What we’re not
We’re not a government body and we don’t speak for one. We’re not a travel agent: travel is booked through licensed partners.
Hospitality and funding we receive
We record gifts, hospitality and funding from overseas governments and organisations, including support for cultural exchange centres in China.
| Date | From | What | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Register to be published here | |||
Your information
We collect only what we need, keep it safe, and follow the Privacy Act 2020. Read our privacy policy.
Good practice
We follow published New Zealand guidance on international partnerships, including NZSIS advice for organisations working overseas. If you have a concern about our work, please tell Simon directly.