Home/About
About Eastern Bridge · 东桥国际
Relationships first. Kanohi ki te kanohi.
Eastern Bridge is a boutique New Zealand consultancy and social enterprise. We help councils, communities and schools build real relationships with China and Asia, and look after them over years, not months.
Our story
Caption to be written with the photo.
Kia ora. I’m Simon Appleton (方志杰). I started Eastern Bridge because councils kept asking the same question: a city overseas has written to us, so what do we do now?
By 2019 we were helping councils answer it properly, with offices in Napier, Wuxi and Nanchang. That meant reading the letter, getting the protocol right, hosting the visit, and following up, so the relationship turned into something local people could see.
From 2020, with borders closed, I put my energy into building Eastern Bridge Education and the China Volunteer Programme. Our council work was quieter for a few years while those grew.
With the world opening up again, and friendships between countries mattering more than ever, I’m putting Eastern Bridge’s council and community work back at the centre. It’s where I think we can do the most good for New Zealand communities. From 2027 I’ll be based mostly in China, so our partners on both sides have someone on the ground.
Kind regards, Simon
Our story so far
2019
Council international relations
Supporting councils with sister cities, delegations and protocol. Eastern Bay of Plenty friendship agreements with Jiangxi signed.
2020
Borders close
Visits stop. We look for new ways to keep people connected.
2023
Eastern Bridge Education
Training becomes its own company, Eastern Bridge Education Ltd, a separate company in which Eastern Bridge is a major shareholder.
2024
China Volunteer Programme
Our first New Zealand volunteers teach English in Jiangxi schools.
2026
The programme grows
More than 500 applicants for the September 2026 intake of the China Volunteer Programme.
2027
Councils and communities, back at the centre
I’ll be based mostly in China, on the ground for our partners.
Value
Relationships first
Meeting in person, keeping in touch and looking after people over years.
Value
Community benefit
Work that local people, young people and iwi can see and share in.
Value
Reputation
We do what we say, and we only say what we can stand behind.
About Simon
I studied law in Beijing, worked inside local government in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, and have 18 years’ experience helping councils, schools and businesses with their partners in China, Korea and across Asia.
Simon Appleton (方志杰), founder
Background
Qualifications
Master of Law in International Relations, Renmin University of China (2010). BA in International Relations and Asian Studies, Victoria University of Wellington (2005)
Languages
English, Chinese and Korean, with professional working proficiency in Chinese
Local government
Economic Development Manager, Toi Economic Development Agency and Ōpōtiki District Council (2011–2014)
Eastern Bridge
Founder, since 2014
Business councils
Executive Director, Korea New Zealand Business Council (2018–2024)
Consular role
Honorary Consul for the Republic of Korea in Hawke’s Bay, since 2022.
In China
Studied and worked in Beijing, 2008–2010. Based mostly in China from 2027
Certifications
Trinity College London TESOL
Our relationships
The relationships are what we really hold. We name councils and partners here only with their permission.
How we work: platform and connector
We hold the relationships and the trust. When there’s work to do, we connect you with the right partner, and we stay involved. That keeps the quality high and keeps us honest about what we do ourselves.
Some partners pay us a referral fee or commission. We tell you in writing when they do.
You
Councils, schools, travellers, businesses
→
Eastern Bridge
Relationships, advice, introductions
→
Partners
Teaching, travel, trade
Our partners
Sister organisation in China
Beijing New Bridge
Our sister organisation in China. It works with host schools on the China Volunteer Programme. It is a separate organisation.
Partners we’re building
Licensed partners
Licensed travel agencies, NZ operators and iwi for tourism; trade partners later. Listed here once agreements are signed.
Partner · separate company
Eastern Bridge Education
Eastern Bridge Education Ltd is a separate company and an NZQA-registered training provider. It delivers its own courses, including training for our volunteers and teaching for study groups. Its registration belongs to it, not to Eastern Bridge Limited.
Want to talk about a relationship?
A 30-minute Zoom call is the easiest place to start.