James Cameron Explains Why His Family Chose to Make New Zealand Their Permanent Home Over the U.S.

NEED TO KNOW

• James Cameron explained his family’s decision to move to New Zealand permanently in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The director of Avatar expressed his deep affection for the country and its people, dating back to his first visit in 1994.
• Cameron has been married to actress Suzy Amis Cameron since 2000, and they have three children together.

James Cameron has long admired New Zealand, but the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted him and his wife, Suzy Amis Cameron, to make a permanent relocation to the country.

During an appearance on the latest episode of In Depth with Graham Besinger, the 71-year-old director of Avatar: Fire and Ash discussed how New Zealand’s handling of the pandemic influenced his decision. “New Zealand had eliminated the virus completely,” he noted, highlighting the country’s effective response during the global health crisis.

Cameron first visited New Zealand in 1994, stating he fell in love with the place immediately. “I made myself a promise. ‘I’m going to come live here someday,'” he recalled. His wife, Suzy, was supportive of this dream, though their discussions evolved over the years as they built their family in California. “After Avatar, let’s make this happen,” he said of their eventual move.

Having purchased a farm in New Zealand in 2011, Cameron frequently traveled back and forth while working on the 2022 film, Avatar: The Way of Water. The couple decided to officially relocate as a family in August 2020.

Reflecting on New Zealand’s vaccination strategy, Cameron stated, “They actually eliminated the virus twice.” He contrasted this with the United States, remarking on the lower vaccination rates. “This is why I love New Zealand. People there are, for the most part, sane as opposed to the United States. We had a 62% vaccination rate, and that was going down – going the wrong direction.”

Suzy Amis Cameron and James Cameron.

Kevin Winter/Getty

Cameron posed a thought-provoking question during the interview: “Where would you rather live? A place that actually believes in science and is sane, or a place where everybody’s at each other’s throats?” When Graham Bensinger described the U.S. as “a fantastic place to live,” Cameron responded skeptically, “Is it?”

Ultimately, the filmmaker emphasized the importance of stability over scenery. “I’m not there for scenery, I’m there for the sanity,” he remarked.

James Cameron.

Marc Piasecki/Getty

Cameron, previously married four times, has an adult daughter, Josephine, from his marriage to actress Linda Hamilton. Suzy Amis Cameron also has a son named Jasper from a previous marriage.

The full interview with Cameron will air in syndication across the United States this weekend.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is currently in theaters.