The nation of New Zealand has been paying a state-appointed 'Wizard' to entertain its citizens across the streets of Christchurch for 23 years. That's now come to an end, as the city seeks a more modern approach to tourism, and after controversial comments from the unlikely public employee.
As reported by The Guardian, the official Wizard of New Zealand's 23-year spell promoting the South Island's city through “acts of wizardry and other wizard-like services” has officially come to an end as the local council has opted to remove him from its payroll.
The English-born Wizard, whose real name is Ian Brackenbury Channell, has been working in public spaces across Christchurch since arriving in the country in 1976. However, it wasn't until 1990, when he was contacted by New Zealand's then-Prime Minister Mike Moore, that his role became official.
“I am concerned that your wizardry is not at the disposal of the entire nation,” The Guardian reports that Moore said at the time. “I suggest therefore that you should urgently consider my suggestion that you become the Wizard of New Zealand, Antarctica and relevant offshore areas […] no doubt there will be implications in the area of spells, blessings, curses, and other supernatural matters that are beyond the competence of mere Prime Ministers.”
Since becoming the country's official Wizard over two decades ago, Channell has reportedly been paid $16,000 NZD a year – amassing to a total of around $368,000. The council has said that its decision to end Channell's contract comes as the city is looking to take a more modern approach to tourism and promotional campaigning. Council spokesperson Lynn McClelland told The Guardian that it is hoping to “showcase a vibrant, diverse, modern city that is attractive to residents, domestic and international visitors, new businesses, and skilled migrant workers”.
Although Channell's wizarding antics have become widely-recognized around Christchurch's city streets, he has also seen criticism over various comments that he has made about women. Amid other remarks, The Guardian reports that in April, Channell told the current affairs show New Zealand Today that women, "Use cunning to get men who are thick," and that you should, "Never strike a woman as they bruise easily".
Channell told The Guardian that the council had ended his contract because he did not fit "the vibes" of the city. Further, he confirmed that his time as a wizard is not yet over – stating that he would continue to appear around the city to talk to locals as he has done for many years.
In other New Zealand-related news, Valve co-founder Gabe Newell found himself stuck in the country during a ten-day vacation last year that unexpectedly extended as the nation went into lockdown. Fortunately though, he didn't seem to mind too much and even went as far as to put on a free concert in Aukland to thank the country. Newell eventually managed to return from New Zealand a number of months after arriving – and in doing so made it back to speak to us about Valve's upcoming launch of the Steam Deck.
Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.