Renowned filmmaker James Cameron has publicly attributed his decision to relocate to New Zealand directly to the nation's impressive handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 71-year-old director, originally from Ontario, Canada, made these revealing comments during a comprehensive interview on the programme In Depth with Graham Besinger.
A Stark Contrast in Stability and Science
Cameron explained that observing New Zealand's efficient and cohesive response to the global health crisis convinced him it represented a far more stable and sensible place to reside compared to the United States. He posed a rhetorical question to underscore his point, asking where one would prefer to live.
'A place that actually believes in science and is sane and where people can work together cohesively to a common goal,' Cameron stated, '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.'
Pandemic Performance: Vaccination Rates and Virus Elimination
The Oscar-winning director of cinematic landmarks like Titanic, The Terminator, and Avatar noted that New Zealand had successfully eliminated the virus on two separate occasions. He acknowledged a third, more transmissible variant eventually breached defences, but highlighted a crucial preparedness factor.
By the time that dangerous strain spread, Cameron pointed out, New Zealand's population already had a 98 percent vaccination rate. He contrasted this sharply with the United States, where he cited a rate of approximately 62 percent that was, in his view, declining.
'This is why I love New Zealand,' Cameron affirmed. 'People there are, for the most part, sane as opposed to the United States where you had a 62 percent vaccination rate, and that's going down – going the wrong direction.'
Beyond Scenery: A Quest for Sanity
When interviewer Graham Bensinger suggested the US remained a fantastic place to live, Cameron pointedly questioned this assertion. Bensinger then referenced New Zealand's renowned natural beauty, prompting a clarifying response from the director.
'I'm not there for scenery; I'm there for the sanity,' Cameron declared, emphasising that his move was fundamentally driven by societal and governance factors rather than aesthetic appeal.
A Long-Term Aspiration Finally Realised
Cameron disclosed that the seed for this relocation was planted as far back as 1994, following a visit that left him enchanted with the country and its people. 'I just really fell in love with them,' he said, recalling making a personal promise to himself to live there someday.
He noted that his wife, Suzy, 64, had always been amenable to the idea. Despite establishing family roots and owning properties in Southern California areas like Malibu and Santa Barbara, the couple kept the plan alive. The final decision to proceed was made following the release of his film Avatar.
Broader Frustrations with US Direction
Cameron's comments extend beyond pandemic management into broader political criticism. He recently expressed significant frustration with the environmental policies of the previous US administration under President Donald Trump, whom he described in exceptionally strong terms.
Furthermore, Cameron has characterised a potential Trump re-election in 2024 as 'a turn away from everything decent,' voicing a concern that society is moving backwards on critical issues. His relocation to New Zealand, therefore, appears rooted in a profound desire for a more scientifically literate, cooperative, and stable national environment, which he believes he has found.
