Renowned filmmaker James Cameron has announced his permanent relocation from the United States to New Zealand, a move he describes as crucial for his sanity. The pandemic forced him to reconsider where he was living. As such, he and his wife increased their connection to the southern hemisphere nation where they purchased a farm in 2011.
Cameron underscored that the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in New Zealand was an important consideration in their decision. He emphasized that the country achieved a remarkable 98% vaccination coverage. In sharp contrast, the US is in retreat with just 62% of its population vaccinated. The director highlighted New Zealand’s success in completely eliminating the virus, stating that it offered a more stable environment compared to the situation in the US.
During an interview with Graham Bensinger on “In Depth,” Cameron expressed his frustrations about life in the United States, particularly under former President Donald Trump. He compared the experience to “watching a car wreck in slow motion.” His sentiments encapsulate a growing movement among high-profile figures in Hollywood.
Fewer Foreign Students
Many have already left or are in the process of leaving the US due to the harsh political polarization and disappointment with public health actions.
“This is why I love New Zealand. People there are, for the most part, sane – as opposed to the United States, where you had a 62% vaccination rate, and that’s going down, going the wrong direction.” – James Cameron
Cameron underscored his preference for living in a community that values science and collaboration. He posed a thought-provoking question regarding quality of life in different environments:
“Where would you rather live? 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 polarised, turning its back on science and basically would be in utter disarray if another pandemic appears.” – James Cameron
Cameron’s decision to leave forms a trend with other leading Hollywood creatives who have recently departed. They’re not the only ones—celebrities including George Clooney, Jim Jarmusch, Ellen DeGeneres, and Rosie O’Donnell have all considered new citizenships or relocation plans. They typically point to the political climate under Trump’s administration as their reason for doing so.
As part of his transition, Cameron has recently been granted New Zealand Citizenship, which he hopes to finalize in the next few days. He’s plowed millions of his own dollars into shooting sections of his new Avatar epic in New Zealand. This new effort deepens his ties to the land of his birth even more.