James lives in Lower Hutt, where he is a Justice of the Peace and longstanding Rotary Club member. While born in Wellington, James has strong connections to Te Tauihu as he spent his formative years on his grandparents’ Motueka farm.

James has a background in Human Resource management. He is a former Wakatū Incorporation director, and was formerly the Chief Executive of Tohu Wines.

James is a member of Ngā Uri and a descendant of the tūpuna determined by the Native Land Court 1892 as the original customary owners of the Nelson Tenths’ Reserves.