James Cameron and his wife chose New Zealand as their second home four years ago. Now the Hollywood filmmaker wants to show the world why he is so passionate about the place he describes as ‘my kind of country’.
James Cameron is sharing his love of New Zealand, fronting a new video that gives the world a glimpse of what it is about the country that captivates him like nowhere else.
Cameron’s personal connection with New Zealand stems from his very first visit in the mid-nineties. “I came as a stranger, I knew very little about New Zealand, and I left in love with it. Not just the beauty of the land that is very seductive, but the dynamic spirit of the people. I had never felt a connection to a place that strongly before. And I never really lost that dream.”
In a collaboration with Tourism New Zealand, Cameron and his wife Suzy Amis Cameron spent four days filming, taking in the natural wonders of New Zealand’s spectacular South Island. The couple walk on the Tasman Glacier, kayak through a Dart River canyon and take in the sweeping views of Blanket Bay by helicopter. They hike on the alpine Routeburn Track, cycle beside Lake Pukaki and visit Mount Alfred in the Glenorchy area near Queenstown.
The Cameron family have a coastal estate north of the capital city, Wellington, where he is immersed in the development of the next Avatar. They divide their time between New Zealand and California. He says: “There is so much to see and experience and you can do it all because everything is so close together. We go on hikes, cycle the incredible trails, kayak in the ocean and walk through the forest. If you enjoy the outdoors and you enjoy a sense of adventure, you’re not going to be able to beat this place anywhere in the world.
“If you happen to like helicopters like I do, you could see ten of the most stunning places you’ll see in your lifetime in a day. If you are driving, an hour and a half or two hours, the country just unrolls toward you like an IMAX film.”
A world renowned explorer and environmentalist, Cameron is passionate about discovery. “When you see something you have never seen before, it’s a wonderful experience. It’s like a living painting; it’s never the same view two days in a row.”
The Cameron video will roll out in Tourism New Zealand’s key markets around the world and Chief Executive Kevin Bowler is confident it will inspire more people to visit New Zealand. He says: “Having someone of the calibre of James Cameron sharing his personal stories and insights while exploring some of New Zealand’s most beautiful places is of immeasurable value for New Zealand. James and Suzy have chosen to have a home in New Zealand and continue to be inspired by our beautiful landscapes and welcoming, creative people.
”I am sure that this video, which perfectly captures James’s passion for exploration and his curiosity, will inspire many more people to travel to New Zealand and discover the country for themselves.”
Daniel Borgman, the Auckland resident and New Zealander who directed the video says: “Having been born and bred in the South Island, it has been a poignant moment in my career to be telling its story through the eyes of James Cameron. As one of the most respected filmmakers of our time, to have him in front of the camera has allowed us to create a really special and atmospheric piece of content we are all extremely proud to share.”