James Cameron Prefers New Zealand for Its ‘Sane’ Environment
James Cameron, the renowned director known for the “Avatar” series, recently shared his preference for living in New Zealand, describing it as “sane” compared to the U.S. In a recent interview, he elaborated on his decision to relocate, emphasizing his admiration for how New Zealand handled governance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cameron reminisced about his first visit to New Zealand in 1994, where he fell in love with the landscape and the warmth of the people. He eventually bought a farm there in 2011, which led to numerous visits over the years. “We went home for Christmas, but then the pandemic hit. We found ourselves having to set up our production in New Zealand. At that point, we figured it was the right time for the whole family to relocate,” he explained.
Admiration for New Zealand’s COVID Response
During the interview, he praised New Zealand’s strict COVID-19 lockdown measures, claiming, “New Zealand has completely eliminated the virus. In fact, we did it twice. When a new mutation emerged, we managed to control the spread quickly, largely due to a high vaccination rate of 98%.
At that time, the country was under the leadership of Jacinda Ardern’s Labour government, which implemented a four-tier alert system to combat the virus. This system empowered police to use “reasonable means” to ensure public compliance, including the possibility of prison time for violations.
“This is part of what makes me love New Zealand,” he added.
Cameron Critiques U.S. Vaccination Rates
Switching topics, Cameron voiced concern about what he sees as inadequate vaccination rates in the United States. “People in New Zealand have a very different outlook compared to the U.S., where vaccination uptake has stalled at around 62% and seems to be heading in the wrong direction. It’s surprising, to say the least. Where would you choose to live?” he asked host Graham Bensinger.
Bensinger, caught off guard, hesitated and responded, “Well, the U.S. is a great place to live.” to which Cameron quickly retorted, “Really?” To diffuse the tension, Bensinger mentioned New Zealand’s stunning beauty, but Cameron emphasized his deeper reasons for living there. “I’m not there just to enjoy the views. My focus is to keep my sanity intact.”
The Director’s Farming and Vegan Lifestyle
Continuing the conversation, Cameron talked about his farm and his commitment to a vegan lifestyle. He grows organic vegetables for local businesses and spoke candidly about GMOs, expressing that while he has no inherent issues with them, their integration with pesticides can be dangerous. “If everyone adopted a 100% plant-based diet, we could significantly lower our carbon footprint, not to mention benefit the environment and wildlife,” he concluded.
