The New Zealand Wizard, known for casting spells or the rain dance, has been fired

After more than thirty years of loyal service, the city council forced the wizard of Christchurch, New Zealand, to step down. At eighty-eight, Ian Brackenbury Channel was a town celebrity and tourists from all over the world came to see him addressing the crowds in his black robe, with his long beard, shaggy hair and a hat pointed on his head.

This mage was involved in all fights, blame politics, or leading a fight to prevent it To attack the soul of the city When the red phone cases had to be repainted blue. He was invited to cast spells to influence the outcome of major rugby matches or to perform a rain dance in Australia.

It is difficult to terminate this contract.Lynn McClelland, a Christchurch City Council MP, said. “The Council is grateful to him for his precious and special contribution to the cultural life of our city, and he will forever be a part of our history.” According to her, the magic no longer corresponds to the image that the largest city in the South Island intends to promote, and that the new programs “It will increasingly reflect our diverse communities and promote a vibrant, diverse and modern city.”.

Ian Brackenbury Chanel, a British-born former RAF pilot and University of Leeds graduate with two majors in Psychology and Sociology, arrived in Christchurch in 1974, and when he began to take charge of public speaking, the City Council demanded his arrest, but it became so popular that That ten years later, when he threatened to leave after a spell that didn’t have the desired effect in rugby, the city council asked him to stay.

“It was a welcome change of attitude after years of hostile policies on the part of the City Council.”, He said. In 1990 Prime Minister Mike Moore officially appointed him “The Wizard of New Zealand”. Since 1998, the magician has received 16,000 New Zealand dollars (9,745 euros) annually by the city council for the performance of his duties as a magician.

He did not hide his anger after the city council’s decision. “They are a bunch of bureaucrats who have no imagination.”, he told the Stuff news site. “They don’t think of ways to promote Christchurch abroad. They don’t take advantage of my global awareness. I’m disappointed.”