At a Glance
- James Cameron relocated his family to New Zealand in August 2020 after COVID-19 exposed U.S. divisions
- The director praised New Zealand’s 98% vaccination rate versus America’s 62% and declining
- Why it matters: Cameron’s public rejection of the U.S. highlights how pandemic policies reshaped where Americans choose to live
James Cameron’s decades-long love affair with New Zealand turned into a permanent escape from America after the director concluded the United States had lost its collective mind during the pandemic.
The Avatar filmmaker told Graham Bensinger during a syndicated interview that New Zealand’s science-driven COVID response made the decision to abandon Malibu and Santa Barbara roots surprisingly easy. Cameron, 71, had purchased a farm in New Zealand back in 2011 and spent years traveling between continents while finishing Avatar: The Way of Water.
From Vacation Fantasy to Survival Strategy
Cameron’s relationship with New Zealand began in 1994 during a film shoot. He immediately promised himself he’d live there someday. When romance blossomed with actress Suzy Amis Cameron, she readily agreed to the future move during their early dating years.
The couple married in 2000 and raised three children while building careers in California. Between the farm purchase and 2020, Cameron shuttled back and forth across the Pacific, slowly transitioning projects and family commitments toward New Zealand.
Pandemic Politics Seal the Deal
The final push came when New Zealand achieved what Cameron calls impossible for America: actual virus elimination. The country successfully wiped out COVID-19 twice before a mutated strain finally broke through their defenses. Even then, New Zealand maintained a 98% vaccination rate compared to America’s 62% and falling.
Cameron didn’t mince words about his homeland’s failures.
“Where would you rather live?” Cameron posed during the interview. “A place that actually believes in science and is sane and where people can work together cohesively to a common goal, or a place where everybody’s at each other’s throats, extremely polarized, turning its back on science and basically would be in utter disarray if another pandemic appears?”
When Bensinger attempted to defend America as “a fantastic place to live,” Cameron shot back: “Is it?”
The director clarified his priorities have shifted from scenery to sanity. New Zealand’s landscapes are stunning, but Cameron emphasized he’s “not there for scenery,” he’s “there for the sanity.”
Family Roots Versus Survival Instincts
The move required significant family negotiations. After two decades building lives in California, the Camerons had deep community ties and professional obligations. Cameron previously weathered four marriages before finding stability with Suzy, who brought her own son Jasper from a previous marriage to actor Sam Robards.
Together they share three children plus Cameron’s adult daughter Josephine from his marriage to Terminator star Linda Hamilton. Balancing blended family dynamics with international relocation meant Cameron had to amend his original promise to Suzy about moving after they got serious.
The August 2020 relocation came as Cameron finalized Avatar: The Way of Water and began planning Avatar: Fire and Ash, currently in theaters.
Public Break with Hollywood
Cameron’s criticism represents more than personal preference. His public rejection of America’s pandemic response places him among high-profile entertainment figures openly questioning whether the United States remains viable for raising families or maintaining sanity.
The director’s comments reflect broader industry frustrations. Hollywood productions faced repeated shutdowns as Los Angeles became a COVID hotspot while New Zealand’s film industry continued operating under strict but effective protocols. Avatar sequels filmed largely in New Zealand, giving Cameron firsthand experience with both systems.
Life After the Move
Since relocating, Cameron has embraced New Zealand’s approach to public health and community responsibility. The country’s smaller population and geographic isolation helped contain outbreaks, but Cameron credits citizen cooperation more than geography.
The filmmaker’s farm provides space for his family to live relatively normally while much of the world struggled with ongoing waves of infection. New Zealand’s approach validated Cameron’s long-standing admiration for the country and its people, dating back to that first 1994 visit.
Impact on Future Projects
Cameron plans to continue developing Avatar sequels from his New Zealand base. The country’s film infrastructure and government support for major productions make it attractive for technical filmmaking requiring massive resources.
His production company has expanded operations in Wellington, creating local jobs and deepening ties to the region. The move appears permanent rather than temporary, with Cameron investing in both property and community relationships.
Key Takeaways
- James Cameron chose New Zealand’s science-based pandemic response over America’s political divisions
- The director had dreamed of living in New Zealand since 1994 but COVID-19 accelerated his timeline
- Cameron’s criticism highlights how pandemic policies influenced where Americans with resources chose to live
- The filmmaker considers New Zealand’s approach to public health and community cooperation superior to the United States
Cameron’s full interview on In Depth with Graham Bensinger airs across U.S. syndication markets.
