Esther Marion Pretoria James (5 November 1900 – 7 January 1990) was an entrepreneur who once walked the length of New Zealand to raise awareness of New Zealand-made goods.

James was one of New Zealand's first professional fashion models and a keen supporter of "buy New Zealand-made."

James walked the length of New Zealand in 1931–32 to raise awareness of New Zealand-made goods and improve trade during the depression.

[2] She was the first person to do this walk from Spirits Bay to Stewart Island and wore only New Zealand-made clothing and shoes.

[1] James wrote a best-selling autobiography titled Jobbing Along published in Christchurch in 1965 by Whitcombe & Tombs.