By Patrick Gower
Avatar director James Cameron says he is looking forward to making New Zealand his new home, but his dairy farm purchase – approved by Government after a promise Cameron would come and live here – has continued to fuel the political debate about foreign ownership.
The sale was approved because Cameron will “reside indefinitely” in the Wairarapa with his fifth wife, actress Suzi Amis, and their three primary-school-age children.
To meet the criteria, foreign buyers like Cameron need to have applied for a visa. They then have five years to become a resident, but there are no subsequent check-ups, just voluntary reporting.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says on that basis, “why not let half the world come… they could comply with that”.
Although Cameron is a committed environmentalist, under the Green Party’s policy the farms sale would be blocked.
Co-leader Russell Norman says while he “loved Avatar… James Cameron should become a resident before he buys land here”.
With two Avatar sequels to make, Cameron’s mere presence could be an economic bonanza – work on the first movie created 1500 jobs and an estimated $300 million for the economy.
So great is the potential benefit that the Prime Minister says “the fact that [Cameron] might live in New Zealand is an added bonus”.
He may not be able to milk cows, but he can certainly make movies – and that's a skill many would say we should be rolling out the red carpet for.
3 News