Eastern Bridge

Founded in 2014, Eastern Bridge Limited works to enhance the international engagement efforts of New Zealand's local councils and council-controlled organizations, including regional economic development agencies, tourism boards, and non-council groups like Iwi organizations, business associations, and chambers of commerce. Our primary focus is supporting and managing international relationships in East Asia through initiatives like sister city and friendship city partnerships. Eastern Bridge operates in three main areas- Economic Development: We facilitate and support economic outcomes by leveraging international partnerships- Community Exchange: We promote activities that build strong, people-to-people connections across borders, fostering cultural understanding and mutual respect- Youth Development: We actively involve young New Zealanders in international relationship-building, aiming to cultivate future leaders who understand and value cross-cultural connections. In addition to our international work, Eastern Bridge collaborates closely with migrant communities in New Zealand. We assist local councils in gathering insights and improving their engagement with non-English speaking residents. Our tools include- Annual Migrant Survey: Conducted since 2017, this survey is the largest of its kind in New Zealand, helping councils understand the challenges migrants face and identify opportunities to improve their support and services- Hongi Platform: A news and information service that reaches to visitors weekly, providing daily news, resources, and life guides in 10 languages, aimed at migrant communities throughout regional New Zealand. Eastern Bridge has also invested in establishing training centers to offer free ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes, IELTS preparation, employment skills courses, and digital literacy programs, ensuring migrants are well-integrated and supported.