In 1998 , the urban center council of Christchurch , New Zealand , hired Ian Brackenbury Channell as itsofficial wizard . For the last 23 age , he ’s collected an annual salary of $ 16,000 New Zealand dollar mark ( a little over $ 11,000 U.S. dollars today ) in interchange for “ [ providing ] acts of wizardry and other whiz - like services — as part of promotional work for the city of Christchurch . ”
harmonise toChristchurch City Libraries , these routine and service included rainfall dance , purge while , make believe philosophical speeches in the metropolis ’s Cathedral Square , and more . Channell ’s condition as a “ Living Work of Art”—not to remark hisGandalfian appearance , complete with a pointy chapeau , menstruate gown , and a gnarled stave — also made him something of a tourist attraction for the region .
But before long , Christchurch will be wizard - less : As NPRreports , functionary have decided to terminate Channell ’s contract come December . To anyone conversant with Channell and his work , the news may not be much of a surprisal . The 88 - year - erstwhile sorcerer has minify his bodily function in late years , and last summer he even expressed a wish to turn over over the reins to an apprentice .
That said , he ostensibly wo n’t hang up his lid whole , even after the paychecks stop coming . “ It make no departure . I will still keep going , ” hetoldStuff , explaining that he plans to continue his visit to Christchurch ’s Arts Centre . “ They will have to shoot down me to terminate me . ”
“ The council has met with The Wizard and transmit him a varsity letter thank him for his service to Christchurch over the retiring decades , and informing him that we are add our formal contractual arrangement to a closing , ” McClelland said .
[ h / tNPR ]
