New Zealand Council Ends Contract With Wizard After Two Decades of Service (theguardian.com) 48
The official Wizard of New Zealand, perhaps the only state-appointed wizard in the world, has been cast from the public payroll, spelling the end to a 23-year legacy. From a report: The Wizard, whose real name is Ian Brackenbury Channell, 88, had been contracted to Christchurch city council for the past two decades to promote the city through "acts of wizardry and other wizard-like services," at a cost of $16,000 a year. He has been paid a total of $368,000.
The Wizard, who was born in England, began performing acts of wizardry and entertainment in public spaces shortly after arriving in New Zealand in 1976. When the council originally tried to stop him, the public protested. In 1982, the New Zealand Art Gallery Directors Association said he had become a living work of art, and then, in 1990, the prime minister at the time, Mike Moore, asked that he consider becoming the Wizard of New Zealand. "I am concerned that your wizardry is not at the disposal of the entire nation," Moore wrote on his official letterhead.
The Wizard, who was born in England, began performing acts of wizardry and entertainment in public spaces shortly after arriving in New Zealand in 1976. When the council originally tried to stop him, the public protested. In 1982, the New Zealand Art Gallery Directors Association said he had become a living work of art, and then, in 1990, the prime minister at the time, Mike Moore, asked that he consider becoming the Wizard of New Zealand. "I am concerned that your wizardry is not at the disposal of the entire nation," Moore wrote on his official letterhead.
Now you see it, now you don't. (Score:5, Funny)
The Wizard, whose real name is Ian Brackenbury Channell, 88, had been contracted to Christchurch city council for the past two decades to promote the city through "acts of wizardry and other wizard-like services," at a cost of $16,000 a year. He has been paid a total of $368,000.
Making $368,000 is an act of magic.
Re: (Score:3)
Over 20 years? In my part of the world, making less then $20k USD per year is starvation wages.
I'm guessing he had to also have other employment to be able to afford food.
Re:Now you see it, now you don't. (Score:5, Insightful)
He started the gig at 68, so it was probably just a nice little retirement hobby, not a full-time job.
Re:Now you see it, now you don't. (Score:5, Informative)
He was 68 when he was promoted to Wizard of NZ, before that he was just the Wizard of Christchurch.
In other cities there were colleagues, such as "The Duke of Wellington" in the capital city (AFAIK totally unrelated to the Wellesley family)
They sold souvenirs including an upside down map of the world (to show NZ at the top). with countries that spoke English marked in red (including Canada and Australia, but of course not the USA where they speak American, not English
Re:Now you see it, now you don't. (Score:5, Insightful)
If it in encouraged tourism, much less the site location for the Hobbit, etc... then it was a fantastic return on investment
Re: Now you see it, now you don't. (Score:1)
Re: Now you see it, now you don't. (Score:4, Informative)
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How was he even kept on after the Christchurch Earthquake?
Re:You Shall Not Pass (Score:5, Funny)
He claimed to have cause the earthquake while doing battle with a terrible creature that was attempting to flip the island over with its thrashing.
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Why do we still have faith "healers" or any peson of the cloth who claims to be able to cure diseases or, in the current case, that some fictitous being will protect people from covid [newsweek.com]? One would think that failure after failure would show these people are blowing hot air, but the gullible are easily convinced otherwise.
Re:You Shall Not Pass (Score:5, Funny)
He could move to Sydney and be the Wizard of Aus'.
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Re: (Score:3)
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Apparently didn't work to keep Covid out of the country.
Sure, but it was probably not part of his mandate. Doing so might have upset the Minister of Spiritual Healing - if there is one.
Purpose? (Score:5, Insightful)
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Exactlly. Publicity and entertainment. It's hard to say - not being in NZ - how much he did. But if he was reasonably active, $16k/year is cheap.
There are public artwork installations that cost millions, last a lot less than 20 years, and are a lot uglier than this guy.
Re: Purpose? (Score:4, Insightful)
Agreed. Compared to the City of Culture awards in Britain, or even the World Black Pudding Throwing Contest, this was doubtless a lot cheaper and a lot more effective at bringing in tourists.
Gandalf (Score:2)
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According to the BBC, he holds a New Zealand driving licence under the name The Wizard.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world... [bbc.com]
I can't access his own site - seems am blocked, possibly due to alot of people visitng his site now.
Re: Gandalf (Score:1)
I'm the Wiz (Score:2)
Now I'm not.
$16k/year is low for government work (Score:2)
$16k/year is low for government work and if it's ZND 16K then that like 11K USD.
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Well there's an idea. Pay him in magic beans.
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$16k/year is low for government work and if it's ZND 16K then that like 11K USD.
You didn't read his work contract. Is he standing 8 hours a day 5 days a week in a public square doing wizardry? I'm betting he isn't.
Re: $16k/year is low for government work (Score:3)
He likely is doing 8 hour shifts. Doubtless a lot if it is tarot reading, reikei healing or shamanistic dances, but the least of that is more honest work than most MPs put in.
Political Correctness (Score:2)
A curse on political correctness, 20 years of dedicated service and now Ian of Christchurch has been simply cast aside. 88 (apart from standing for Heil Hitler, surely a coincidence) is no age for a self-respecting wizard, rejuvenation spells can keep them active for hundreds of years.
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So you are saying that the city that paid him for what is essentially PR work shouldn't fire him if he starts saying things that are not popular ?
Usually, if you can't do your job properly, you are fired, but maybe that's just me ?
Quick question (Score:3)
Did he go into the sunset on a boat?
Re:Quick question (Score:5, Funny)
Back In the 70's he rowed out to in a boat to escape being counted in the census (which is held every 5 years in NZ) You are supposed to register in the dwelling you will be on midnight on the day of the census, and he was beyond the 12 mile limit.
Nothing a little (Score:1)
Anál nathrach, orth’ bháis’s bethad, do chél dénmha
could not fix.
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AnÃl nathrach, orthâ(TM) bhÃisâ(TM)s bethad, do chél dénmha
heh heh, heh hehhh you wrote "anal"
I love New Zealand (Score:5, Insightful)
That's it. That's all I have to say.
The Wizard of NZ (Score:2)
That was a close call.
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I'm trying to figure out how... (Score:2)
2021 - 1990 gives 23.
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It's deep wizardry.
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NZ is interesting (Score:2)
Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn. So clearly he did save Christchurch from a hideous beast.
Sermons on YouTube (Score:2)
His sermons will still be on YouTube.... though unlikely to be monetized.
Feminists [youtube.com]
Naughty Girls [youtube.com]
Save the planet by stopping women [youtube.com]
Wizard Wizard (Score:2)
They should have listened to Tolkien (Score:2)
Somebody in the council has finally read Tolkien: