James Cameron Says He Moved to New Zealand for “Sanity,” Not Scenery

Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron has spoken candidly about why he chose to relocate from the United States to New Zealand, saying the decision was driven by science, social cohesion, and peace of mind.

Appearing on a recent episode of In Depth with Graham Bensinger, Cameron explained that New Zealand’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic played a major role in his move. He noted that the country eliminated the virus twice early on and, when a later mutation broke through, it already had a vaccination rate of around 98%.

“This is why I love New Zealand,” Cameron said. “People there are, for the most part, sane.”

He contrasted that with the United States, criticizing what he described as declining vaccination rates and deep political polarization. Cameron questioned where he would rather live: a country that “believes in science and can work together,” or one he described as divided and hostile to scientific consensus.

During the interview, host Graham Bensinger remarked that the U.S. is still “a fantastic place to live.” Cameron pushed back, responding simply: “Is it?”

When Bensinger suggested that New Zealand’s natural beauty might be part of the appeal, Cameron dismissed the idea. “I’m not there for scenery,” he said. “I’m there for the sanity.”

Cameron, who has spent years in New Zealand working on the Avatar franchise, revealed last year on The F—ing News podcast that his New Zealand citizenship was “imminent.”

He has also been openly critical of the political climate in the U.S., particularly during and after the presidency of Donald Trump. Cameron said he believes America has turned away from its core values, describing the country as being “hollowed out” for the benefit of a few.

In contrast, he praised New Zealand for what he sees as a strong sense of mutual respect and equality. “Everybody has this kind of equal status in terms of personhood,” he said, adding that this was the environment he wanted his children to grow up in.

Cameron also said he feels safer living in New Zealand and appreciates being removed from the constant U.S. political news cycle. “I don’t have to read about [Trump] on the front page every single day,” he said, calling the coverage in the U.S. “inescapable” and “sickening.”

“There’s something nice about New Zealand outlets,” Cameron added. “At least they’ll put it on page three.”