James Cameron Says He Relocated His Family to New Zealand for “Sanity,” Calling the U.S. Too Polarized
WELLINGTON — Legendary filmmaker James Cameron has revealed that he and his family made a permanent move to New Zealand in 2020, saying the decision was driven not by scenery, but by what he calls the country’s “sanity” compared to the United States.
Speaking on the latest episode of In Depth with Graham Bensinger, the 71-year-old Avatar director explained that New Zealand’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately convinced him and his wife, actress Suzy Amis Cameron, to settle there for good.
“I’m not there for the scenery,” Cameron said during the interview. “I’m there for the sanity.”
A Longstanding Love for New Zealand
Cameron shared that his admiration for New Zealand dates back decades. He first visited the country in 1994 and said he immediately felt a deep connection to both the landscape and the people.
“I just really fell in love with it,” he recalled. “I remember thinking, ‘I’m going to come live here someday.’”
That idea became more realistic after he and Suzy, 64, married in 2000. While building a family and establishing roots in Malibu and Santa Barbara initially delayed the move, the couple eventually agreed that relocating after completing work on the Avatar franchise was the goal.
The Pandemic Changed Everything
Cameron purchased a farm in New Zealand in 2011 and spent years traveling back and forth while working on Avatar: The Way of Water. However, the global pandemic in early 2020 accelerated their plans.
By August 2020, Cameron said the family decided to relocate permanently.
“New Zealand eliminated the virus — twice,” Cameron explained. “And when it came back in a mutated form, they were already at a 98% vaccination rate.”
He contrasted that with the situation in the U.S., criticizing what he described as widespread skepticism toward science and growing political division.
‘A Place That Believes in Science’
Cameron didn’t hold back when comparing the two countries.
“This is why I love New Zealand,” he said. “People here are mostly sane — unlike the United States, where vaccination rates stalled around 62% and then started going backward.”
The Titanic director posed a blunt hypothetical question during the interview:
“Where would you rather live? A place that believes in science and works together toward a common goal, or a place that’s completely polarized, turning its back on science, and would fall into chaos if another pandemic hit?”
When Bensinger described the U.S. as “a fantastic place to live,” Cameron quickly responded, “Is it?”
Family Life in New Zealand
Cameron and Suzy share three children together. He is also the father of an adult daughter, Josephine, from his previous marriage to actress Linda Hamilton. Suzy has a son, Jasper, from her earlier marriage to actor Sam Robards.
The filmmaker, who has been married four times prior to Suzy, said the move was ultimately about protecting his family’s well-being and choosing a healthier environment.
What’s Next for Cameron
Cameron’s full interview will air in syndication across the U.S. this weekend. Meanwhile, his latest film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is currently playing in theaters.
Despite continuing to work globally, Cameron made it clear that New Zealand is now home — not for its beauty, but for what he believes is a more rational and cooperative society.