Editing The Wizard of New Zealand (section)

==Life and career==

=== England ===
The Wizard was born Ian Brackenbury Channell on 4 December 1932 in [[London]], England.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Wizard |url=https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/the-wizard |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=my.christchurchcitylibraries.com |language=en-NZ}}</ref> He was educated at [[Framlingham College]], [[Suffolk]], and from 1945 to 1951 at [[Bromley Grammar School]] for Boys, now [[Ravensbourne School, Bromley|Ravensbourne School]]. In 1951, he was called up for [[Conscription in the United Kingdom|national service]] in the [[Royal Air Force]]. Although he initially trained to be a pilot, he was later transferred to navigator training in Canada and was subsequently posted as the [[adjutant]] at [[Duxford Aerodrome|RAF Duxford]]. He left the RAF in 1953 and became a sales representative for a paper merchant. In 1956, he married his girlfriend, Monica, and from 1958 spent two years teaching English in Iran. He then returned to England in order to attend the [[University of Leeds]] and graduated with a double honours degree in [[psychology]] and sociology in 1963. As a student at Leeds, he was a member of the institution's ''[[University Challenge]]'' team.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wizard |first=The |title=My Life as a Miracle |publisher=Canterbury University Press |year=1998 |isbn=0908812736 |location=Christchurch |pages=7–47}}</ref><ref>{{youTube|2oZk6DWlw8I|Granada TV's "University Challenge" 1962/3}}</ref>

=== Australia ===
Shortly after his graduation in 1963, he was recruited by the [[University of Western Australia]] Adult Education Board to run their community arts programme. In 1967, he became a teaching fellow at the newly opened School of Sociology at the [[University of New South Wales]] in Sydney. He was required to study towards a PhD thesis, but was informally promised a lectureship once completed.{{sfn|Wizard|1998|pp=44–50}}

During this time he created a direct action reform movement called Alf (Action for Love and Freedom) and implemented what he called "The Fun Revolution". In 1968, he separated from his wife and his thesis was terminated due to insufficient progress. As his position was dependent on the continuation of his studies, he was consequently dismissed as a teaching fellow. The next year he was appointed as "Wizard" (effectively an events officer) of the University of New South Wales. He would also take on another persona, when elected as dictator of the student union. In late 1969, he was made Wizard by the [[World University Service]] of Australia and toured university campuses throughout 1970. He was able to persuade the [[Melbourne University]] Union Activities Department to appoint him their unpaid "[[Cosmologer]], Living Work of Art and [[Shaman]]" in 1971. The vice-chancellor gave him the use of the Old Pathology Lecture Theatre for his classes in synthetic cosmology and the director of the [[National Gallery of Victoria]] accepted the offer of his live body as a living work of art. At this time, shocked when the student pacifist society sent money to the [[Viet Cong]], he founded [[Alf's Imperial Army]] devoted to sensational but non-violent warfare and regularly organised battles on campus. He founded the [[Imperial British Conservative Party]] to provide a counterbalance to international [[capitalism]] and the various forms of [[Nazism]].{{sfn|Wizard|1998|pp=51–74}}

The Wizard stood unsuccessfully in three Australian federal elections, contesting [[Division of Sydney|Sydney]] in [[Electoral results for the Division of Sydney#1969|1969]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Commonwealth of Australia Legislative Election of 25 October 1969|website=Adam Carr's Election Archive|url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/1969/1969repsnsw.txt|access-date=19 August 2022}}</ref> and [[Division of Kooyong|Kooyong]] in [[Electoral results for the Division of Kooyong#1972|1972]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Commonwealth of Australia Legislative Election of 2 December 1972|website=Adam Carr's Election Archive|url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/1972/1972repsvic.txt|access-date=19 August 2022}}</ref> and [[Electoral results for the Division of Kooyong#1974|1974]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Commonwealth of Australia Legislative Election of 18 May 1974|website=Adam Carr's Election Archive|url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/1974/1974repsvic.txt|access-date=19 August 2022}}</ref>

=== New Zealand ===

[[Image:Wizard of Christchurch.JPG|right|thumb|The Wizard in front of Christchurch Cathedral in January 2007]]
[[File:The Wizard of New Zealand and Alf's Imperial Army.jpg|thumb|The Wizard of New Zealand escorted by members of [[Alf's Imperial Army]] at his investiture with the Queen's Service Medal, 2009]]
[[File:Wizard's wishes.jpg|thumb|The Wizard in December 2012]]

In 1974, the Wizard migrated to [[Christchurch]] in New Zealand and began to speak on a ladder in [[Cathedral Square, Christchurch|Cathedral Square]]. The city council attempted to have him arrested, but he became so popular that they made the square a [[public speaking]] area. Wearing his costume as a [[false prophet]] of the [[Church of England]], or his wizard's pointy hat, he has spoken there at lunchtimes in the summer months.{{sfn|Wizard|1998|pp=74–79}}

He confronted [[Telecom New Zealand|Telecom]] over the colour of public telephone boxes, played for the local rugby team, heckled Christian [[Evangelism|evangelist]] [[Ray Comfort]], evaded the compulsory [[New Zealand census]] and performed [[rain dance]]s in [[Canterbury Region|Canterbury]], [[Auckland]] and the Australian [[outback]].

In 1982, the [[National Art Gallery of New Zealand|New Zealand Art Gallery]] directors association issued a statement that in their opinion the Wizard was an authentic living work of art and the [[Christchurch City Council|city council]] appointed him "Wizard of Christchurch". In 1990, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, [[Mike Moore (New Zealand politician)|Mike Moore]], an old friend, appointed him the official "Wizard of New Zealand".

With the help of the mayor, [[Vicki Buck]], the city of Christchurch hosted a wizards' conclave in 1995 when visiting colleagues gathered to help build a wizard's nest on top of the university library tower, to witness the Wizard hatching from a giant egg in the city art gallery, sky diving whilst chanting a spell for a major rugby match and performing various rituals round the city. Soon afterwards, accompanied by 49 assistant wizards, he came down by gondola from the [[Port Hills]] with tablets bearing the address of his new website.{{sfn|Wizard|1998|pp=160–162}}

He initially provided his services free. In 1998, the Christchurch City Council signed a contract with him to "provide acts of wizardry and other wizard-like-services – as part of promotional work for the city of Christchurch" for an annual fee of $16,000. The Wizard also received financial support from his partner, Alice Flett.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2214505.stm |title=NZ wizard seeks charms of normal life |work=[[BBC News]] |date=24 August 2002|publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] |location=London |quote=But even wizards must eat. This one has long been supported by his Australian fiancée, Alice Flett. | access-date=23 October 2015}}</ref>

On 8 September 2003, the Wizard's large wooden house was destroyed by a fire, which Christchurch police treated as arson. The "Wizardmobile", constructed from the front halves of two [[VW Beetle]]s, was also attacked and damaged.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 August 2023 |title=Mystery fire ravages iconic Wizard's historic home |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/mystery-fire-ravages-iconic-wizards-historic-home/PK2PPGPQWOYRER7IGX4NTBEH7U/ |access-date=19 August 2023 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

The Wizard was awarded the [[Queen's Service Medal]] in the [[2009 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|2009 Queen's Birthday Honours]] for service to the community.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://www.dia.govt.nz//pubforms.nsf/NZGZT/Special-QsBday89Jun09.pdf/$file/Special-QsBday89Jun09.pdf | title=The Queen's Birthday Honours 2009 | date=17 June 2009 | issue=89 | journal=[[New Zealand Gazette]] | pages=1965–1968}}</ref>

After the February [[2011 Christchurch earthquake]], the Wizard planned to retire and permanently leave Christchurch, saying that the town he loved had gone and that it was the end of an era.<ref name="Stuff.co.nz_4699902">{{cite news |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/4699902/Damaged-city-too-much-for-Wizard |title=Damaged city too much for Wizard |author=Ensor, Blair |date=24 February 2011 |work=[[The Marlborough Express]] |access-date=4 December 2011}}</ref> After it was announced by the [[Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority]] and the Anglican bishop that the remains of [[Christchurch Cathedral]] would be demolished, the Wizard returned to Christchurch to oppose the demolition.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/6553014/Wizard-in-save-cathedral-bid |work=[[The Press]] |title=Wizard in 'save cathedral' bid |date=10 March 2012|first=Charlie |last=Gates |access-date=5 October 2014}}</ref> The Wizard continues to speak on the need to preserve Christchurch's heritage buildings.

Since 2014, Ari Freeman has been the Wizard's apprentice.<ref name="cnn">{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/08/asia/new-zealand-wizard-intl-hnk-dst/index.html |title=This New Zealand man gets paid $10,000 a year to be a city's official wizard |first=Julia |last=Hollingsworth |date=8 August 2020}}</ref>

In October 2021, the Christchurch City Council ended its contract with the Wizard after two decades of service.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Zealand council ends contract with wizard after two decades of service |last =Corlett| first =Eva |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/15/new-zealand-council-ends-contract-with-wizard-after-two-decades-of-service |website=[[The Guardian]] |date =15 October 2021|access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=15 October 2021|title=Christchurch: New Zealand city parts ways with its wizard|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58924306|access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> The Wizard said he was disappointed but will continue to appear in the city.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gates |first1=Charlie |title=Council to stop paying The Wizard $16,000 a year after 23 years on the payroll |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/126624095/council-to-stop-paying-the-wizard-16000-a-year-after-23-years-on-the-payroll#comments |access-date=9 October 2021 |work=[[The Press]] |publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=9 October 2021}}</ref>

The Wizard stood as a candidate in the [[2022 Christchurch mayoral election]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Christchurch City Council 2022 Elections Candidate Contact List|website=[[Christchurch City Council]] |url=https://www.ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/The-Council/How-the-Council-works/Elections/2022-elections/2022-Elections-Candidate-Contact-Details-16-August-2022-UPDATE.pdf|access-date=19 August 2022}}</ref> receiving 2,474 votes and coming in fifth place.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.electionz.com/LGE2022Results/ELT60CH22_results.pdf |title=Christchurch City Council – 2022 Triennial Elections – Declaration of Result |publisher=[[Christchurch City Council]] |date=14 October 2022 |accessdate=16 October 2022 }}</ref>