The Wizard of New Zealand, also known as the Archwizard of Canterbury, is well known in New Zealand as a public speaker, performer, and eccentric. The Wizard (this is his legally recognised name) has also been recognised as a "living work of art" by the National Gallery of Victoria and the Robert MacDougall Art Gallery, and as "Cosmologer" of the University of Melbourne. He is also the founder of the Imperial British Conservative Party, and Alf's Imperial Army. The New Zealand region of Canterbury mostly comprises the Canterbury Plains. ... National Gallery of Victoria The National Gallery of Victoria is an art gallery and museum in Melbourne, Australia. ... Cosmology is the study of the large-scale structure and history of the universe. ... The Old Quad Building, formerly Old Law The University of Melbourne, located in Melbourne, Victoria, is the second oldest university in Australia, after the University of Sydney. ... The Imperial British Conservative Party was a farcical political party founded by the Wizard of New Zealand. ... Alfs Imperial Army presents for a photo during the PISS campaign, 1989-04 Alfs Imperial Army was the creation of The Wizard of New Zealand in 1972 at Melbourne University in Australia. ...

Born in 1932 in London, England as Ian Brackenbury Channell, he was appointed Wizard of the University of New South Wales by the Vice Chancellor and Students' Union in 1969. 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq... The University of New South Wales is a university in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ...

The Wizard initially gained attention in New Zealand as a regular soap box orator in Cathedral Square in Christchurch,New Zealand. Dressed as a Wizard in a black gown, wizard's hat and staff and wearing a long flowing beard, his topics of oration were, for the most part, deliberately controversial and frequently whimsical. His maiden speech in Cathedral Square in Christchurch, New Zealand on September 17, 1974 was greeted with derision and eggs, later ones by objections from the City Council, but after many battles with bureaucracy he is now an institution and tourist attraction. Some allege that he even receives state money for bringing in tourist revenue. Orator is a Latin word for speaker (from the Latin verb oro, meaning I speak or I pray). In ancient Rome, the art of speaking in public (Ars Oratoria) was a professional competence especially cultivated by politicians and lawyers. ... A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected representative in such bodies as the House of Commons or the United States House of Representatives. ... Cathedral Square in Christchurch, with Christ Church in the background. ... For other uses, see Christchurch (disambiguation). ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Bureaucracy is a concept in sociology and political science referring to the way that the administrative execution and enforcement of legal rules is socially organized. ...

One of his pet peeves is filling out census forms, which he has tried to escape by such means as travelling off-shore in a small boat or by "magically disappearing" at the time of the census. He also claims that the traditional world views are incorrect and "borealocentric", proposing the Upside-Down World, with Antarctica and South at the top of the map, and the Inside-Out Universe, which inverts all dimensions and measurements. 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

He occasionally came under heavy criticism from Barry Smith, the New Zealand eschatologist and born again preacher. In particular, Smith blamed the Wizard for an infestation of insects in one area, after he had performed a native American raindance in an aeroplane over said area. Barry Smith Barry Rumsey Smith (10 May 1933- 27 June 2002) was a preacher and author from New Zealand. ... // For the book by Pope Benedict XVI, see Eschatology (book). ... A rain dance is a ceremonial dance that is performed in order to invoke rain and to ensure the protection of the harvest. ...

On October 6, 1990 he was proclaimed Wizard of New Zealand by the then Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mike Moore. He has also been known as The Wizard of Christchurch or simply The Wizard. October 6 is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealands head of government and is the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand. ... This page is about the New Zealand politician and Director-General of the World Trade Organization. ...

On September 8, 2003 the Wizard's large wooden house was destroyed by a fire. The Wizard, his partner and two boarders were lucky to escape with their lives, but the Wizard's extensive book and video collections were destroyed. The Wizardmobile, constructed in Timaru from the front halves of two VW Beetles, was also attacked and damaged - it was repaired however. September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Volkswagen Beetle or Bug is a small family car, the best known car of Volkswagen, of Germany, and almost certainly the world. ...

Public Speaking

In the past the Wizard frequently made public appearances as a soap box orator in Cathedral Square, Christchurch. In recent times the Wizard began appearing less frequently at first only appearing in Summer and then not at all. By 2004 the Wizard was at least semi-retired, although seemed to appear most Tuesdays, often wearing a white robe. In 2005 he moved to Oamaru to retire from his active duties. It was fortunate for this quiet town in North Otago that he was present at the official re-opening of Oamaru Airport on August 6, 2006, as with his intervention the prohibitive fog that prevented the first flight from landing disappeared.^[1] 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...   Oamaru is the largest town of North Otago in the South Island of New Zealand. ... Typical North Otago landscape, looking north from near Herbert The town of Oamaru, North Otagos principal settlement The district of North Otago in New Zealand covers the area of Otago between Shag Point and the Waitaki River, and extends inland to the west as far as the village of... August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Notes

1. ^ Oamaru back on the flight radar Archived video footage accompanying news item by TVNZ, August 6, 2006, TV ONE New Zealand

Current TVNZ logo Television New Zealand (TVNZ) is the main broadcaster of television in New Zealand, established in 1980 through the merger of Television One and TV2 (formerly South Pacific Television). ... August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Note: Radio 1 is the primary service of several broadcasters. ...

External links

• Official web page